Gvozdenović turned a blind eye to "Bemaksa" and banned "Tehnoputa"

Back in 2015, the Montenegrin Littoral Regional Water Supply requested the withdrawal of all water consent decisions issued in the sanitary zone of the "Boljeestre" source, but the then Ministry of Sustainable Development, headed by Branimir Gvozdenović issued a decision to suspend the construction permit only for the "Tehnoput" asphalt base, which was still in the planning phase, but did not review the permits for the "Bemaksa" asphalt base, which had been operating for three years at that time, only 50 meters from the contested "Tehnoput" location ".

This can be seen from the documents of the then Ministry of Sustainable Development, as well as the response of the Water Administration to the request of the Regional Waterworks. Even five years after the regional water supply from the "Boljeestre" source began to supply drinking water to municipalities on the coast, the competent institutions are arguing about the extent of the protection zone, and the Water Administration is demanding that it be reduced.

The problems of the Regional Waterworks became a big affair about a month ago, when it was presented that the illegal and excessive exploitation of sand from Morača and its surroundings, as well as at the mouth of the Cijevna in Morača, caused a large drop in the water level, which drastically reduced the yield of the "Boljeestre" source. So far, over 107 million euros have been invested in the Regional Water Supply, and it should supply water to a region of 150 inhabitants, and in the summer to over half a million tourists.

This illegally mined sand was processed in the surrounding asphalt bases and concrete factories, which the competent services are currently investigating.

The Ministry of Sustainable Development, by decision of May 10, 2015, suspended the process of issuing a building permit to "Tehnoputu" for the construction of an asphalt base on Cijevna, until it is determined whether it threatens the source of "Boljeestre". In the explanation of that document, a letter from the Water Administration was cited, in which it is stated that the withdrawal of consent for the "Tehnoputa" base would mean a review of all consents in that zone, including "consent for the operation of eight petrol pumps for the water of the "Bemaxa" asphalt base". which is located 50 meters from the location of the Tehnoput asphalt base"...

The Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, which succeeded the former Ministry of Sustainable Development, did not respond to the question "Vijesti", sent two weeks ago, regarding whether the approval for the construction of the "Bemax" asphalt base was reviewed since 2015. ”, that is, whether the Ministry will now review the operation of this asphalt base, as well as other facilities that potentially threaten the spring of "Boljeestre".

The Water Administration has now responded to "News" that "Tehnoput" was issued a water permit on February 6, 2015 for the main project of hydrotechnical installations of the asphalt base. This company was obliged to carry out all the works according to the main project and to properly submit a request for the issuance of a water permit for the use of the asphalt base, however, they never requested a water permit, so the water permit expired a year after it was issued.

After issuing a water permit to "Technoput", the Water Administration was approached by the Regional Waterworks, which requested the withdrawal of all decisions on water permits, as well as other acts, in connection with the sanitary protection zone of the "Boljeestre" water source.

On May 6, 2015, the Water Administration sent a letter to the then Minister Gvozdenović, informing him about the request of the Regional Water Supply to review all permits issued for facilities in the sanitary protection zone.

In that letter, it is stated that withdrawing consent for "Tehnoput" would also mean reconsidering consent for the "Bemaksa" asphalt base, because it is located only 50 meters away in the same zone. At that time, the Administration stated that the broader zone of sanitary protection of the source of "Boljeestre" has not been defined, that it is necessary to carry out complex hydrogeological research in order to more fully define the catchment area of ​​the source and define the wider zone of sanitary protection.

"The position of this administration at the time was that if the water permit issued to "Tehnoput" was withdrawn, the consequence would be the obligation to withdraw and review all issued permits. Also, withdrawing the decision would lead to inevitable lawsuits, and most probably arbitrations, which would undoubtedly be won by the investors. This would expose the state to a large financial cost due to damage compensation, land acquisition and others," the Water Administration said now.

They say that the previously issued consents were based on the project documentation, which also provided technical solutions for the protection of surface and underground water from pollution.

"The environmental impact assessment carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that technology and technological processes prevent negative impacts on the environment and that any impact can only be expected in extreme situations," the Administration stated. One of such extreme situations happened in April 2014, the year before these correspondences and requests from the Regional Waterworks, when the Environmental and Water Inspectorate determined that the company "Bemax" was discharging waste water into Cijevno from this base.

"Bemaks" never even received a water permit, it was given to him by the Municipality

The Water Administration stated that they gave "Bemak" a water permit for the asphalt base in 2012.

"According to the documentation, 'Bemaks' has a use permit issued by the Capital City of Podgorica, but not our water permit for the use of the facility," the Water Administration told "Vijesta".

For the concrete and asphalt base, "Bemaks" received usage permits on February 14 and December 2, 2013, when the mayor was Miomir Mugoš.