The locals of Bijedić do not want a quarry next to houses and springs

Although the Elaboration of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the project of detailed geological investigations of technical construction stone at the Ober location in Pećarska (Bijedići) in Bijelo Polje, held yesterday in Bijelo Polje, states that there are no protected buildings and assets of cultural and historical heritage at the location, the complete project he encountered opposition from the locals at yesterday's public hearing.

This is the first phase of investigative activities, which will determine whether a quarry will be opened at that location.

"At the location in question, as well as in the immediate vicinity, there are no springs for water supply, the nearest watercourse/source is the Zahumski potok, which is not for use. The water analysis for the period from 2008 to 2014 of Zahumski Potok and Vrel shows that these waters are not for use," the Elaborate writes.

The citizens pointed out that their claim that the concessionaire company "Elas" had cut through an archaeological site from the Neolithic period and that there are houses and water sources nearby, and that the construction of the quarry will destroy the air, water, people and animals, proved to be true.

Krsto Tvrdišić warned that the exact name of the place must first be determined through the planned research and study, stressing that at the foot of the rock of the future quarry there is an archaeological site, which would be buried by the activation of the quarry.

"The quarry will lead to the destruction of the environment and put into question the survival of the population in that area, which is rich in water sources. In the Elaborate it is written that the place is Pećarska, and the locality is in Bijedići. The location where they are planning to set up the plant is not within the concession area, but that field is outside the concession area, and in the Elaborate, the places where the water is found are also wrongly stated," he said.

Tvrdišić emphasized that the entire procedure was non-transparent from the very beginning.

"When signing the contract, no consent was obtained from the MUP for a quarry near the border, no permit was obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, and according to the law on concessions they were legally obliged to obtain it," he said, explaining that the consent was given by the Regional Unit Bijelo Polje forest administration.

He noted that the access roads to the quarry lead through private properties, stating that the concessionaire company "Elas" has several companies blocked, and that the citizens will not allow them to "extricate themselves" from the problem by using the quarry.

Admir Camić said that the information that there is only one stream in the concession area, which is allegedly disappearing, is not correct.

"There are springs in that area at a distance of 50 to 100 meters, and the stream mentioned in the study is used to supply drinking water to all the surrounding villages," said Camić, emphasizing that there are at least 15 sources of drinking water nearby.

As for the allegation that "all measures have been taken to protect the road infrastructure", Camić said that this is not true, but that the road, which is not intended for heavy goods vehicles, has already been destroyed, which also crossed two bridges, which were already damaged, and that no one came either to determine the damage or to repair it.

He asked how the same team would transport 15.000 cubic meters of stone, which they indicated was needed for research, on a non-exchanged road near the houses, over bridges that are not intended for such a load.

Residents of Bijedić and the surrounding villages protested the construction of a quarry several times, and yesterday during a public hearing they were supported by representatives of the residents of Srđevac, who blocked the main road on Monday, dissatisfied with the construction of a quarry in that place.