Czech waterworks receive EU grant

A grant of 435 million Czech crowns from an EU programme has been given to the North Bohemian Waterworks for the development of infrastructure. This covers 65% of the expenses necessary to modernise five water purification plants and complete reconstruction of the sewerage system in the North Bohemian town of Usti nad Labem. The project is expected to start at the beginning of next year and is to be fully completed by 2005. It is the only project in the country to receive funding from the EU's programme so far. The Ministry of Environment, however, hopes to receive financial support for at least three more such projects.