Inhabitants of the Strpce municipality for almost two months are protesting on a daily basis over construction of a mini hydro-power plant, that according to them jeopardizes the two river Kaludjerka and Bolovanka, thus preventing potable water supply to the residents, Radio kontakt plus reports. The angered citizens tried to present their request to the municipal authorities.
“We have only one request and it is to halt the construction of a mini hydro-power plant (…). Here, I have the document from 2013, which clearly says the request to construct hydro-power plants H1 Sari, H2 Brzovica, H4 Brod and H5 Strpce has been rejected, so it is not clear to me what is it about now,” Dobrivoje Stevanovic, Strpce inhabitant said.
Inhabitants underlined they would continue the protests until the heavy machinery leaves the place, and further construction of a mini hydro-power plant is halted.
“We cannot even use the water for technical purposes, due to oil and petrol leaking out from machinery and getting into the rivers,” Milorad Djurinac said.
“We are afraid to be left without water, if we have no water, how can we live,” Snezana Djurinac added.
The protestors warned that more than 100 people signed a petition they would not allow the company to install the pipes in their parcels.
“They can dig 400 meters more from here, because it is socially owned property, but after that there are private properties. They extend to some 4 kilometeres, and we have collected around 130 signatures that no one, at no price, would permit the company to install the pipes in the private properties, Marko Zdravkovic from Strpce said.
RTK2 said, they did not manage to contact representatives of construction company “Matkos Group” from Pristina. Ombudsman Office noted that commission has been established and it is collecting the information related to this issue.