The Danilovgrad local government was not officially informed about the launch of a public debate on the Annual Plan for Granting Concessions for the Exploitation of Mineral Raw Materials, which was announced by the Ministry of Energy and Mining, and which, according to their plan, ends today.
Due to this and the fact that most of the public debate that began on December 30 last year covered the New Year and Christmas holidays, a public forum has been scheduled for this morning at 8:30 a.m. at the Danilovgrad Cultural Center to discuss with citizens whether it is acceptable to plan three more new quarries in that municipality, which is opposed by three different local communities.
As the Annual Plan Proposal envisages granting concessions for three new quarries at the locations of Klikovače, Kriva ploča - Slatina and Sađavac II, it is expected that the public forum will include residents of the local communities of Jelenak, Bandići, Novo Selo, Gorica, Spuž and Zagarač.
According to "Vijesti", apart from Danilovgrad, no other local communities were officially notified about the launch of the public debate at the end of last year.
Therefore, activists and citizens of several municipalities, including Andrijevica, have requested an extension of the public hearing for at least 15 days, which would ensure substantial public participation and prevent a situation in which, due to lack of transparency and lack of information, concessions would be awarded without the consent of local communities.
Civic and environmental activist Aleksandar Dragićević He pointed out that so far, citizens from several municipalities have actively participated in the public debate - Mojkovac, where two new quarries are planned, Andrijevica, where the reactivation of the Luge site has been initiated, Podgorica, where a quarry is planned in Donji Kokoti, Danilovgrad with three planned quarries, Bar, where a quarry is planned in the village itself, as well as Ulcinj, or Zoganje, where the reactivation of an old quarry is planned.
The document itself states that if local governments, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Heritage are against any of the locations, they will be withdrawn.
In a statement by residents of the Andrijevica settlement of Gornje Luge, who fought against the quarry nine years ago, they state that the implementation of the planned concession would have permanent negative consequences for the environment, the health of the population, the quality of life, local infrastructure and the natural environment.
"The planned site is located in the immediate vicinity of family households, agricultural areas and springs, which is contrary to the principles of sustainable development and protection of property rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the Law on Property and Legal Relations. We particularly emphasize that the residents of Gornje Lugi organized and successfully fought against the opening of a quarry at the same location in 2017, which has been documented in public... Ignoring this fact represents neglect of the previously expressed democratic will of the local community," the remark, which "Vijesti" has access to, reads.
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