"Rijeka Zeta" nature park targeted by illegal builders

The Agency for the Management of Protected Areas of Podgorica (AUZP) has repeatedly reported illegal activities - construction, especially in the "Rijeka Zeta" Nature Park to the competent inspections.

Executive Director of the Agency Jasna Gajević she said that employees of AUZP, "popularly known as rangers, visit that nature park several times a day".

The "Rijeka Zeta" nature park was declared in December 2019. Apart from Podgorica, management is also entrusted to the Municipality of Danilovgrad.

In addition to the "Rijeka Zeta", the "Komovi" nature park, as well as the "Magara" and "Gorica" ​​nature monuments are under protection.

Gajević told "Vijesta" that five rangers work in the Agency, in two shifts. According to Gajević, the dates and locations they protect are variable and vary on a daily basis.

"...The nature park 'Rijeka Zeta' (the part that belongs to Podgorica) and the nature monument 'Park Šuma Gorica' are visited by rangers several times a day. The natural monument 'Magara Cave' is visited several times a week, while the park 'Komovi' is visited depending on the weather and road conditions", she explained.

She pointed out that the Agency has good cooperation with the environmental inspection.

"The inspection carries out tasks within its competence, and according to the reports of our Agency, in a very professional and timely manner"; said the interlocutor of "Vijesti".

The director of AZUP noted that from September of last year until April of this year, citizens did not report illegal activities. According to Gajević, they were noted by the rangers during daily tours.

"All illegal activities, whether it is illegal construction, illegal waste disposal, illegal exploitation of land, riding motorcycles in Gorica, illegal parking, etc., are noted by the rangers during their daily tours of protected areas. Depending on the type of illegal action, they undertake appropriate measures, in accordance with the Law on Nature Protection, the Law on Protection of Persons and Property, as well as the internal procedures of this Agency, in cooperation and cooperation with competent inspection bodies (building inspection, environmental inspection) and competent services of the Capital City (municipal police, municipal inspection)", concludes Gajević.