Đurašković: The beginning of solving a long-standing problem that has been overlooked for decades

The Montenegrin Littoral Regional Waterworks welcomed the successful arrest of several persons in the fight against the illegal exploitation of gravel from the Morača and Cijevna riverbeds, which was carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in coordination with other competent state bodies, the Directorate for Inspection Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Prosecutor's Office.

"We believe that this is only the beginning of solving this long-standing problem that has been overlooked for decades. We are pleased by the fact that numerous concrete initiatives are intensively undertaken by the Regional Waterworks, and especially in the last few months, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro and other competent authorities, the increased supervision and monitoring of perpetrators of illegal exploitation of gravel and sand from the Morača and Cijevna riverbeds in areas that are in the immediate vicinity, or even within the sanitary protection zones of the Bolje Sestre water source, and the numerous criminal reports that we submitted to the MUP of Montenegro against them, are finally implemented in the right way and the perpetrators are prosecuted in accordance with the law," said Josip Đurašković, executive director of the Regional Waterworks.

He adds that in an attempt to prevent further devastation of the Morača and Cijevna riverbeds caused by the long-term exploitation of gravel and sand, and thereby stop the further drastic reduction in the yield of the Bolje Sestre water source, from which the entire Montenegrin coast is supplied with water, "the new management of the Regional Water Supply is set as its priority the protection of water sources, the abundance of which the tourism economy of Montenegro depends to a significant extent, and a decisive fight against the perpetrators of these illegal actions, as well as close cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as other competent authorities".

Đurašković also adds that the studies prepared and financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as part of the long-term cooperation for the Regional Water Supply, as well as the international experts engaged on this occasion, have confirmed that these activities greatly affect the yield of the springs and threaten the water supply of Montenegro in the long term. littoral, about which the Regional Waterworks has repeatedly informed the competent authorities, as well as the wider public.

He said that in the coming period, i.e. by April 2022, they expect the completion of an extensive study regarding possible alternative solutions regarding the provision of additional amounts of water for Primorje, in order to avoid potential challenges in water supply, if the amount from the Bolje Sestre water source is not sufficient for the safe and continuous water supply of all municipalities of the Montenegrin littoral.

"We are also considering the possibility of building a water purification plant at the water source itself, in case we receive expert confirmation that certain additional quantities of water can be withdrawn from the immediate surroundings of the water source. We will continue to make every effort to find satisfactory solutions as soon as possible. and prevent any risk to the tourism economy and unforeseeable consequences that a water supply interruption would cause. All the more, we welcome the concrete activities of the MUP and other authorities that contribute and help prevent further devastation and preserve the water resources of Montenegro," concluded Đurašković.