Authorities are checking whether Budva's discos and nightclubs meet all legal requirements for operation, and controls are underway in other cities as well.
Officials of the Directorate for Inspection Supervision - Directorate for Protection and Rescue carry out inspection supervision, the Ministry of Internal Affairs responded to "Vijesti" when asked whether the Directorate's inspectors inspect nightclubs and outdoor discos, especially whether they have fire safety permits, or proper equipment.
Budva becomes an open-air disco during the summer, so entertainment is one of the key offerings that has attracted tens of thousands of young people eager to have a good time in the Montenegrin capital of tourism for years.
The tragedy that occurred in mid-March in a disco in Kočani, North Macedonia, when a fire killed 59 people and injured 192 others, 20 of whom were children, is one of the alarms that inspection services should be involved in detailed inspections of nightclubs and discos, especially on the coast.
As explained by the relevant Directorate, inspectors carry out inspections based on the list of issued decisions approving the performance of catering activities for discos and nightclubs, which was submitted by the Secretariat for Economy of the Municipality of Budva.
"Based on the inspection, it has been determined that two permits have been issued on this basis," the government department stated.
However, the Municipality of Budva, or rather its public relations team, did not respond to "Vijesti" despite the urgency sent on July 10th as to whom the Secretariat for Economy issued a permit to operate, or which discos have a permit and which do not, and why.
It is certain that all nightclubs, whether they are open-air discos on Slovenska beach or indoor ones, are operating at full capacity. Day after day, through social networks, but also on billboards plastered all over the city, guest appearances by music stars from the region are advertised.
Hundreds of mostly young people, as can be seen in videos posted on social media, visit these restaurants every evening.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs informed "Vijesti" that inspections of discotheques and nightclubs in the municipalities of Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, Bar, Ulcinj, Nikšić, Pljevlja and Podgorica are underway.
"The Directorate for Protection and Rescue issues fire permits based on Article 90 of the Law on Protection and Rescue, which stipulates the following: 'A permit for the use of a constructed or reconstructed facility for which the Ministry issues a fire permit may be issued when, in accordance with the regulations on the construction of facilities, it is determined that the fire protection measures provided for in the planning and technical documentation are provided in them,'" stated Danilo Šaranović's department.
Also, as they emphasized, the subject of consideration in the future will be facilities based on Article 89 of the Law on Protection and Rescue.
"It stipulates: 'Before the start of construction or reconstruction of an investment facility, the investor is obliged to obtain the Ministry's consent regarding fire and explosion protection for the revised technical documentation - the project, or fire protection study, except for: family residential buildings intended for housing, with an area of up to 500 square meters and with a maximum of four separate residential units; facilities for which temporary urban planning and technical conditions are issued, with an area of up to 100 square meters of closed space, and in which paints and varnishes and other flammable substances are not kept; facilities such as retaining walls, walkways, parks, etc. For facilities for which a building permit is issued by the state administration body responsible for building construction, the main project contains a fire protection project, or a fire protection project with danger zones, in accordance with the planning, or technical documentation. For facilities for which a building permit is issued by the competent local administration body, the main project contains fire protection studies'", the Ministry of Interior pointed out.
“Reasonable time” for correcting irregularities
When asked whether they found any irregularities during the inspections, the Directorate stated that inspection supervision is carried out with regard to compliance with laws, other regulations and general acts, as well as taking administrative and other measures and actions in order to eliminate the identified irregularities and ensure proper implementation of regulations.
"In the municipalities of Herceg Novi, Tivat, Kotor, Budva, Bar, Nikšić, Pljevlja, and the capital Podgorica, a total of 31 inspections of catering facilities, nightclubs, and discotheques were carried out. In almost all facilities, a reasonable deadline was given for the elimination of irregularities identified during the inspection. Also, the competent inspection for catering facilities, discotheques, and nightclubs is the tourist inspection," the Ministry of Interior's Directorate for Protection and Rescue emphasized.
Asked to answer how many such controls were carried out this year and how many irregularities were observed, the Ministry of Interior emphasized that some supervised entities have not yet started work because they have not received work permits, which is why the supervision has not been completed, and that they will have more specific information after the inspection supervision is completed.
"Facility that do not receive operating permits will not even be considered by the Directorate for Protection and Rescue."
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