Project team members of PWMC Vode Vojvodine participated at the opening conference on ‘Repairing navigation infrastructure on Bega Canal’ held today at the premises of the Provincial Government of Vojvodina. Total value of the strategic project funded from the INTERREG–IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Romania–Serbia is 13.85 million EUR.

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović and Vice President of the Provincial Government Đorđe Milićević opened the conference by mutually agreeing on the significance of cross-border cooperation and European integration.

Representatives of PWMC Vode Vojvodine, Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-government, Timiș County Council and Banat River Basin Administration from Romania described future project activities in more detail.

To remind once again, BEGA project includes works on Begej Canal revitalization in the approximate length of 30 km from Romanian border to hydrotechnical structure in Klek. Planned works include repair of hydrotechnical structures in Klek and Srpski Itebej as well as construction of multifunctional inspection and bike path from state border to the Klek Ship Lock. In addition, there is the construction of floating dock for mooring point, technical documentation design for sludge removal and disposal purposes and remediation of Plovni Begej sediment as well as the purchase of floating dredger and aquatic weed harvester for future maintenance.

Revitalization has multifaceted impact on infrastructure upgrade which shall result in increased mobility of people, goods and services between the cities of Zrenjanin and Timisoara.

Environmental impact of these activities can be observed in various aspects. Main aspect is related to first steps of handling the bottom sediment that has been severely polluted for decades and then, reinstating the navigation and initiating the environmentally friendly cycling.

The Begej Canal is expected to be reopened for navigation, development of tourism, infrastructure upgrade and connecting the cross-border region by increased traffic.

Project realization started in 2018 and it is planned to be completed by 2021.