`Resolving the water shortage problems is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works`, Kostadin Paskalev, the newly elected Minister, announced on Wednesday. Some BGN 620 million will be needed for the construction of dams for potable water in drought-affected regions. BGN 3,000 million will be needed to replace outdated piping. The state will seek for private investors to provide capital to make use of the water supply ultilities for it cannot cover all the expenditures. `The concession contracts onthe water supply utilities in Varna and Shumen will be awarded before the end of 2001`, Paskalev said. The check on the contracts signed between the Sofia-based North, South and Chsiti Vodi water supply utilities and the Burgas ones will be completed by the end of the current week, Paskalev said, adding that no illegalities have been detected so far. According to him the implementation of key infrastructure projects under the Phare-Tran-border Cooperation and ISPA programs, the rehabilitation of the main road network and the harmonization of domestic and the European legislation will continue. Paskalev also promised to review the privatisation deals concluded by his predecessor but not with the presumption to void them. `The objective will be to protect the interests of the state`, he said.

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