PM: Underground electrical grid should be spread throughout G. Kotar

Speaking about the extent of the damage caused by sleet and low temperatures that created havoc on roads and transmission lines in this area south of Karlovac and north of Rijeka, PM Milanovic, who visited the disaster-hit area on Wednesday, said at the government's meeting that the authorities should continue developing an underground grid resistant to such disasters, as it was obvious that in the Gorski Kotar municipalities of Vrbovsko and Ravna Gora, which have underground electrical cables, there were no power outages or damage to the power lines.

Foreign Minister Pusic added that Croatia was in touch with Slovenia as the adjacent Slovenian regions were also ravaged by freezing rains and inclement winter weather and they were considering possibilities for applying for EU funds when it came to damaged forests as this also affected the local timber industry.

Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak added that the Croatian power provider HEP had intensified efforts to bring the situation back to normal in Gorski Kotar.

(Hina)