Slovenia needs big bucks to guard against flooding

Slovenia needs to make an investment of 600 million euros (750 million U.S. dollars), according to a preliminary flood prevention plan due to be implemented in 2015.
Sixty-one flood-prone areas, involving some 130,000 residents in the country, have been defined seriously exposed to flooding, Slovenian Press Agency quoted the plan as reporting on Monday.
To clean up river beds, and to strengthen existing embankments in the flood-prone region, have been listed as priorities in precaution measures.
A special task force, consisting of senior officials and experts of various ministries, was appointed by Prime Minister Miro Cerar on Sunday to work out a comprehensive flood protection plan within weeks.
Slovenia, with an area of just over 20,000 square kilometers, has been frequently flooded in recent years. The year 2014 alone has seen four times of major flooding in the country, having inflicted heavy losses on many farmers and house owners.
The Slovenian government is trying to get the funds for improving flood defences in the European Union's 2014-2020 budget framework.