Romanian Ex Environment Min Heard In Land Case

Land in the lake area was targeted by a business project that needed the approval of the Environment Ministry.

The 183 hectares of land were in claim litigation, since over one hundred people claimed ownership on the mentioned pieces of property.

However, the area was targeted by real estate investment initiated by an Australian businessman who unfolded actions to obtain the land in leasing, in order to build casinos, luxury villas and sports grounds.

Negotiations were supposed to be analyzed by former minister Aurel Constantin Ilie, but, in the mean time, he was replaced with Petre Lificiu.

In 2002, Government Decision no. 855 approving the construction of an entertainment complex in the lake area surfaced. The fundament note says, "The terrain at Vacaresti, with a surface of 182.99 hectares belonging to the public domain of the state and it was completely removed from the agricultural and civil circuit, being expropriated within the boundaries of the law."

In March 2004, the Romanian High Court of Justice stated that the land mentioned does not belong to the state.