Authorities in Varna are beginning the first steps toward removing illegal construction in the controversial Baba Alino area, with demolition orders for 13 buildings set to be issued. Mayor Blagomir Kotsev said the documents will be handed to the investor, who will be responsible for carrying out the demolitions.
The action follows a series of inspections that uncovered widespread irregularities in the area. Regional Development Minister Ivan Shishkov announced that authorities have identified 42 tolerance certificates that were issued without legal grounds. Investigators have also found illegally built transformer stations within the disputed zone. While unauthorized themselves, the facilities currently provide electricity to legally constructed properties located outside Baba Alino.
Checks have extended beyond the immediate area. More than 300 tolerance certificates for buildings across Varna have been reviewed, with preliminary findings showing that roughly half lack evidence proving the structures existed before 2009, a key requirement for obtaining such status.
A detailed geospatial survey has revealed the true scale of development hidden within the wooded terrain near the protected Golden Sands Nature Park. Prof. Stiliyan Dimitrov, Director of the National Center for Geospatial Research and Technology at Sofia University, explained that the density of vegetation makes it difficult to assess the extent of construction through ordinary observation or standard aerial photography.
