Director of the NGO Environmental Movement "Ozone" and one of the activists of the Coalition for Sustainable Development (KOR), Aleksandar Perović, called on the Government to stop the procedure of building a small hydroelectric power plant on the Bistrica River in Bijelo Polje after assessing the impact on the environment.
The concession for the waters of that river was obtained by the consortium "Bistrica clean energy", in which the majority owner, with a 98 percent stake, is the company "BP Hidropower" of Žarko Burić, owner of the Podgorica hotel "Hilton".
The locals and many residents of Bjelo Polje expressed their revolt, who had previously called on the owner of the "Hilton" hotel to abandon the construction of the HPP on the Bistrica river, telling him that if he did not do so, they would organize a protest, but not in Bijelo Polje, but in front of his hotel in the center of Podgorica.
"Based on current practice, it is clear that ecological damage is greater than any benefits for the local population and that the only benefit is the controversial businessmen who, with their privileged position, deal with everything and everyone," said Perović.
The request of that consortium was published on the website of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, by which they asked the Environmental Protection Agency to decide on the need for an environmental impact assessment report.
Given that it is prescribed that such a document must be prepared for mini-hydroelectric plants with a power of more than one megawatt, the Agency decided so.
"Through the public discussion for the elaboration, comments on all negative impacts on the environment must be given, which we will do," said Perović.
In the documentation that was submitted to the Agency, it was stated that near the water intake, on the eastern side, there is the Đalovića gorge with the Đalovića cave, which is a protected natural asset, but also that the river itself and the land around the riverbed may be polluted by possible discharges oils, lubricants and fuel from machinery.
In the Request for Decision on the Need for Elaboration, it is also written that construction material dumps, if insufficiently protected, can also be a potential source of pollution: "Especially during periods of heavy rain, as well as water from access roads and construction machinery parking lots", but also that will "the construction of MHP and accompanying facilities will have a certain impact on the life of organisms living in the watercourse and its immediate surroundings".
"The populations of some aquatic species will decrease (fish, aquatic insects, aquatic mites, leeches,...). Many species will have to migrate and adapt to new conditions (this applies especially to animals living in the stretch from the water intake to the power plant). If they succeed, stable populations will form only after a longer period of time (for example, 10 years or more)," the documentation says.
It was also established that the reduction of the amount of water in the watercourse, excavations and similar activities will have a negative effect on the flora and fauna of that area.
"The works that will be carried out during the construction of the MHP imply an increased presence of people and construction machinery, and therefore an increased level of noise. The animals that live here will temporarily leave their habitats and emigrate to the surrounding area (this applies especially and to the greatest extent to the living world that is in the zone of direct influence of the planned intervention)", the documentation says.
It was explained that this negative impact is of a temporary nature and refers to the time during which the HPP with accompanying facilities will be built.
Mekić: We will defend Bistrica to the end
The locals of Bistrica are clearly against the construction of a mini-hydroelectric power plant on that river, and are ready to fight to the end to prevent it from being put into pipes.
This is what the eco-activist from Bijeli Polje, Denis Mekić, told "Vijesta", who announced that, if necessary, in order to defend Bistrica, after using all legal means, they will also organize protests.
Mekić said that he spoke with the residents of Bistrica and that they are unanimous in their intention to defend the river.
"We are now informing the public about this problem and its implications for the environment, the lives of the people of this region. After using all the legal means that we initiate, we will be ready to defend Bistrica with all other means, including the citizens' protest", said Mekić.
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