The Prosecutor's Office is investigating the granting of a concession for a quarry in Podi

The Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica will handle the process of obtaining a concession for a quarry in Podi near Bijelo Polje.

This is stated in the letter from the state prosecutor. Lidija Vukcevic the non-governmental organization “Euromost”.

The NGO announced that the ODT in Podgorica was submitted for competent action in the case that was initiated based on the request of the organization, and after the public announcement of the State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. Andrije Delić, that the ministry did not participate in the process of obtaining a concession for the company "Imperijal" to open a quarry, which was supposed to precede the conclusion of a concession agreement for detailed geological research and exploitation of mineral raw materials for technical and construction stone.

Delić told "Vijesti" that the participation of the institution, which is mandatory in this procedure, was omitted, and called on the authorities to determine responsibility and review the concession.

"Residents of the surrounding villages have repeatedly blocked the Bijelo Polje - Berane main road, claiming that the company Vojislav Smolović, brother of the mayor Petar Smolović, illegally obtained concessions and that the Municipality illegally issued a study on environmental impact assessment. They also filed a criminal complaint, and the Secretary of the Secretariat for Rural and Sustainable Development Armin Sijarić "He has already been questioned by the prosecutor's office," Euromost announced.

In its request to the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office, this NGO requested that Delić be heard, that the Government and the Ministry of Economy be requested to provide all necessary documentation, and that everyone from the Ministry of Economy who participated in the concession awarding process be heard.

In its response, the Forest and Hunting Management Administration stated that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management had requested an opinion from the Administration regarding the construction of the quarry. The Administration, as Delić explained at the time, had submitted an opinion to the Ministry of Agriculture in accordance with the documentation for that location. It emphasized that the Administration had not participated in the concession acquisition process.

Delić then pointed out that it was obvious from the statement of the Administration that it, as the user of the land (which is defined as commercial forest in spatial planning documents and forestry plans), was not aware of the granting of concessions, which aimed to change the purpose of the forest in question by clearing it, so it was obvious that there was illegality in granting the concession in question. J. Ć.