A town hall in Arad bought a drone five years ago, but has never used it / How much it cost and how the authorities explain the situation

The town hall of Pecica, Arad County, is facing criticism from local residents after acknowledging that the drone purchased nearly five years ago for the Local Police has not been used. The information was made public by a local resident on social media after she received a written response from the administration.

According to the document, the drone was purchased on October 27, 2021, from the local budget, for 3,999.59 lei. The device was intended to identify people who abandon waste on public property and those carrying out construction work without authorization.

Mayor Petru Antal explained that the administration had tried to hire an operator but had been unable to find a qualified person in the area. The mayor says the drone remains fully functional and will be used once an operator is identified, in compliance with legal regulations.

Local residents' comments concern both the spending of public money on an unused device and the possibility that drones could fly over private yards and properties. The mayor says the device could help detect waste abandoned in hard-to-reach areas, such as forests or fenced-off land.