Toka-patak stream faces ecological damage from illegal water extraction

Authorities and environmentalists have discovered illegal water extraction activities in the Mátra mountains, specifically targeting the Toka-patak stream. Following a period of extreme drought, individuals reportedly constructed artificial stone dams, or mini-dams, to divert and pump water for local use.

The North Hungarian Water Management Directorate (ÉMVIZIG) confirmed that no permits have been issued for water extraction in the area, making these activities illegal. The intervention caused significant ecological damage, as several hundred meters of the stream bed dried up completely, leading to the death of local aquatic life.

While water management experts and conservationists have removed the artificial structures, enforcement remains difficult. Officials noted that criminal proceedings are hard to initiate without being caught in the act, as water management authorities can only document the scene, leaving actual fining to government offices. During field inspections, authorities also reported encountering verbal aggression from those suspected of the water theft.