Crmničani and other residents of Virpazar and the surrounding villages will block the Sozina tunnel on National Day, July 13, in order to put pressure on the members of the Parliament of Montenegro who will soon vote on the proposal to amend the Law on Roads, which foresees free passage through the tunnel for citizens living in the north from the ramp.
As their representatives told "Vijesti", they addressed the competent institutions a month ago and submitted an initiative with over 500 signatures demanding a permanent solution to the problem as well as an extension of the scope of privileges for passing through the Sozina tunnel.
According to their claim, they received the answer from the president of the municipality of Bar Dusan Raičević, who promised to advocate in the Assembly together with the President of the Bar Municipal Assembly Branislav Nenezić.
"An answer also arrived from the company 'Monteput', where it was indicated that solving this issue, which is existential for the people of Crmnič, would endanger the company's operations. That statement was received as an insult by the people of Crmnič, because the data shows that the company helps various organizations, associations, societies with amounts of 100 thousand euros and more in previous years, that is, during many mandates of various administrations, that amount was shared among the management, as a bonus at the end of the year. and that the company's profit is around 3,6 million euros, so it is not clear how that allocation of only approximately 80 thousand euros on an annual basis could threaten the company's operations", they said.
They also noted that the company "Monteput" since its foundation has been making its profit using, practically, Crmnica resources for almost 20 years, and added that the tunnel is located on their territory and that road has a certain impact on water, air and soil, and because of that, that company should even pay compensation to Crmnica.
They think that this should be done by other entities in relation to water sources, the national park and others, about which a special activity will be launched. They remind that although they did not receive an official response from the Parliament of Montenegro, they are satisfied with the reaction and personal advocacy Zdenka Popović, vice president of that body. They thanked the caucus of the Democrats who initiated the proposal.
They did not receive an answer from the Government, as well as the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs.
"Due to the knowledge that in recent days there has been active lobbying for this issue to be removed from the agenda of the parliamentary session, or simply for it not to be supported by the majority, the citizens of Crmni have turned to the media. We appeal to all MPs to vote for amendments to the law on roads, which deals with the issue of toll collection for the Sozina tunnel for the citizens of Crmnica, because the 20 thousand men and women of Crmnica who live in Bar, Podgorica, Budva and beyond, and in the territory of Crmnica itself, will know that are placed in relation to the results of the vote, and in case of a negative outcome, they announce the blockade of the Sozina tunnel with respect for the law and respect for all the elements of the given moment", they said.
"Finally, almost 20 years ago, with the construction and breaking of the tunnel and the opening of that new road, we got the opportunity to reach Bar much easier and safer. "Unfortunately, for many, this relief slowly turned into a burden, all because of the payment, which for every honest worker, every hard-working Crmničan woman and man from Crmničan, represented an obstacle and discouragement to decide to use the tunnel more often, that is, this route", they pointed out.
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