By January 31, 2013, a working group is to develop a program for the management and development of the Botanical Garden in Plovdiv, reported a Plovdiv24.bg journalist. This decision was made today by the Plovdiv city councilors with 37 votes in favor, none against, and 1 abstention.

In his proposal to the City Council, former regional governor Todor Petkov stated that over the past 30 years the Botanical Garden has shrunk by 132 decares. In this regard, he called for joint measures by the Plovdiv Municipality and the Agricultural University to save the garden.

In 1946, the Higher Agricultural Institute, now the Agricultural University, was allocated a state-owned area of 250 decares for the botanical garden. Today, it hosts around 150 species of decorative trees and shrubs, many of which are unique to Bulgaria. However, due to financial reasons, the garden has deteriorated, becoming a haven for drug addicts and posing a danger to local residents, Petkov added.

“We will support the proposal; we have already had discussions with the university, but for now, we cannot talk about allocating only municipal funds,” said Mayor Ivan Totev on the matter yesterday.

Source: Plovdiv24.bg