200 tonnes of pesticides in the districts of Ocnita, Causeni and Cantemir will be disposed of within the framework of a Memorandum between the Ministry of Environment and the Czech Development Agency, Info-Prim Neo reports. The 500,000 euro project called “Reducing the Environmental Impact of Obsolete Pesticides in Moldova” kicked off in the village of Clocusna, Ocnita district, where the project's implementer, the Czech company Dekonta, assisted by a chemical disposal squad of the National Army, repacked 20 tonnes of pesticides for subsequent transportation. “The project aims to evacuate and destroy chemical waste from three district stockpiles. We are talking about 200 tonnes of pesticide waste which was identified and repacked with financial assistance from NATO and the Moldovan Government, in the districts of Ocnita (Clocusna village), Causeni (Gradinita village) and Cantemir (Ciobalaccia village)”, said Lt.Col. Mariana Grama, department head at the National Army's Logistic Command. Clocusna mayor Ruslan Goreacii noted that the pesticides kept in the village's storehouse for decades posed a great danger. “The environmental situation in the village has worsened in the last few years and tests showed that it's not safe to drink water from wells anymore”, he said, adding: “I think this project will have a positive impact on our community and its people will have a better environment”. It is planed to transport the waste to Germany next year, where it will be destroyed by the German company Sava. There is a further amount of obsolete pesticides estimated at 5,800 tonnes in Moldova that needs additional funding to be disposed of. The Ministry of Defense is conducting negotiations with various international organizations for this purpose. Additionally, an agreement between the Moldovan Government and NATO's Maintenance and Supply Organization that provides for the disposal of 1,269 tonnes of pesticide waste from 15 district stockpiles was signed in June and now awaits parliamentary ratification.