WORLD BANK LOAN FOR CRO ECOLOGY PROJECT TO BE SIGNED SEPT 25

( Editorial: --> 1420 ) SPLIT, Sept 18 (Hina) - An agreement on a DEM65 million World Bank loan to Croatia for the construction of sewerage and water-supply systems which will ecologically protect Kastelanski Bay in the central Adriatic is to be signed in Washington on September 25. The agreement will partly finance one of the most important ecological projects in Croatia, the total worth of which is US$164 million, it was said at a Split press conference on Friday. In attendance were Urban Planning and Construction Minister Marko Sirac, Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development head Anton Kovacev, and Nikola Grabic, head of the Agency for the Realisation of the Integral Project for the Protection of Kastelanski Bay, Eko- Kastelanski Zaljev. Work should begin early next year, while the whole project should be completed by late 2001 or early 2002. The rest of the funds will come from the state budget, alongside DEM74 million granted by the European Bank, and the participation of towns and municipalities included in the project. The aim of the project is a long-term cleaning and protection of sea-water in Kastelanski Bay, the home of Split and Trogir, an almost completely ecologically devastated town. The project consists of three stages, including the gradual construction of the Split-Solin sewerage system, the water-supply system along the whole of Kastelanski Bay, from Split to Trogir, and the Kastela-Trogir sewerage system, Grabic told reporters. The contractors for part of the work will be chosen next week, he added. (hina) ha jn/mbr 181751 MET sep 98