The Minister of the Environment, Diana Buzoianu, has submitted a legislative project that provides for large fines and the confiscation of equipment to combat illegal mineral aggregate exploitation.

The interim Minister of Environment, Diana Buzoianu, presented on Wednesday in Parliament a legislative project aimed at combating illegal exploitation of mineral aggregates and gravel pits disguised as fish ponds. The project provides for fines of up to 500,000 lei, confiscation of equipment, and a five-year operating ban for operators engaging in illegal activities. The new regulations amend the Water Law and the Mining Law, introducing harsher penalties for those who break the law. Buzoianu emphasized the devastating impact of these illegal practices, which have affected communities and caused significant damage.

The project establishes strict deadlines for the completion of authorized works and introduces new offenses related to the illegal storage of aggregates. It also anticipates the confiscation of illegally used equipment and video monitoring of exploitations. The project was developed in collaboration with the National Agency for Mineral Resources and has the support of UDMR and PNL parliamentarians.