The building of the Ghimbav airport near Brasov, in central Romania, could be blocked again after the local environment authorities have discovered that a community of beavers lives in a perimeter near the future airport. It should be declared a protected area, according to the Brasov Environment Protection Agency. However, not all authorities agree.

Claudiu Coman, deputy president of the Brasov County Council, said that the work on the airport had started seven years ago, and it should not be disrupted. “I first thought it was a joke or that I did not understand well, considering that it was a beaver community,” Coman said, according to local news site bizbrasov.ro.

The authorities should first solve the issues related to the county’s development and focus on investments that bring money and tourists. Only afterwards should they worry about environment problems, the deputy president said.

“I’m not saying that we should neglect the environment, but how come you find out about this beaver community seven years after the work started, and the Brasov County Council is the last to hear about this,” Coman added.

If the area where the beavers live is declared a protected one, then the authorities will need new permits to continue building the airport. The Environment Ministry will have the final say on this issue.

The protected area would be located 600 meters away from the airport’s fence.

Earlier this year, in March, beavers were found guilty of another major infrastructure delay. The construction of the Lugoj-Deva highway’s fourth segment could not be completed in due time, because authorities discovered a cemetery that did not appear in the feasibility study, three beaver families, which are protected by law, and a bat cave, according to Narcis Neaga, the former general manager of Romania’s National Highways Company CNADNR.

Three families of beavers, guilty for highway delays in Romania

Diana Mesesan, diana@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Wikipedia)