About 60 million lei needed for modernization of Chisinau-based Central Market

Chisinau, 12 May /MOLDPRES/ - The Chisinau general mayor, Ion Ceban, today unveiled the concept on the modernization of the municipal enterprise Piața Centrală (Central Market). Ceban said that two hectares of the area where the market is placed out of five ones had been already privatized.

Ion Ceban noted that most buildings and booths placed at the Central Market, as well as the ground where they are set had been turned private. ‘’Two out of five hectares on which the Central Market is placed have been privatized. By the audit held at present, we try to learn how this was possible,’’ Ceban said.

The mayor said that the sanitary networks, the sewerage and aqueducts had been constructed 25-30 years ago and did not fit the sanitary norms in force. ‘’It is absolutely necessary to modernize the Central Market, as it poses a high risk of infection,’’ Ceban specified.  

The Chisinau mayor stressed that the modernization works did not imply the ceasing of the work of the Central Market, according to statements made today at a spontaneous protest. These works will be carried out gradually. ‘’The modernization of the municipal enterprise Central Market can be made in three years at the most; it depends on the way this project is financed. We can enforce the principle of public-private financing, financing from bank loans or financing from the city hall’s resources. I remind that, within the development of municipal projects amounting to more than 400,000 lei, the Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC) is the one to approve the project’s development. The sum for the modernization of the municipal enterprise Central Market is of about 60 million lei,’’ Ion Ceban said.      

The official put forward a municipal councilor on behalf of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), Ruslan Verbitchi, as head of CMC’s working group in charge of the modernization of the municipal enterprise Central Market. ‘’I ask not to politicize the discussions on the modernization of the Central Market; I would like that on 19 May, when we will discuss these aspects at the Chisinau Municipal Council, we find a result for the modernization of the Central Market,’’ Ion Ceban said.        

Under a decision by the Commission for Emergency Situations, the Central Market has been closed beginning with 16 March 2020. The measure was taken, in order to prevent cases of infection with COVID-19, as statistics data shows that 40-50 thousand of people daily visit the Central Market. More than 4,000 small traders work at the Central Market and 800 ones work on neighbour streets.