The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given consent to the study on environmental protection to the company Tehnoput for the construction of an asphalt production plant in the third zone of sanitary protection of the source of Bolje Sestre, announced the president of the Board of Directors of the Regional Water Supply Zoran Lakušić.
He said that the EPA gave consent to the study contrary to the provisions of the decision of the Water Administration on the sanitary protection zones of the source of Bolje Sestre.
Lakušić said that the preservation of the rivers Cijevna, Morača and the source of Bolje sestre must be a priority and that this includes ensuring that all industrial activities in their vicinity are strictly prohibited.
As he said, the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property recently adopted a decision related to the protection of the rivers Cijevna, Morača and the source of Bolje sestre.
"Through its urban planning and construction inspection, it prohibited the construction of an asphalt base with accompanying facilities of the Tehnoput company," the announcement says.
Lakušić said that the fact that the EPA issued a new decision giving consent to the Tehnoput company to continue its activities is worrying.
He stated that the EPA, in accordance with Article 28 of the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment, issued a decision to the company Tehnoput on July 5 of this year that gave consent to the elaboration of the environmental impact assessment for the asphalt production plant on the urban plot.
"Which forms part of the cadastral plot KO Cijevna, as part of the urban planning project "Cijevna warehouses and services" in Golubovci - Podgorica, in accordance with the second-level decision of the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North from June 10 last year," the announcement says.
As stated, the Regional Water Supply, as the entity responsible for implementing the decision on the sanitary protection zones of the source of Bolje Sestre, adopted by the Water Administration on December 12, 2008, is resolutely opposed to the installation and construction of commercial facilities within the sanitary protection zones.
Lakušić said that since 2014, the company Tehnoput has repeatedly approached the Regional Waterworks for approval of the environmental impact assessment study for the asphalt production plant - asphalt base.
"Each time the answer of the Regional Waterworks was: "In the wider zone of sanitary protection, the construction of industrial and other facilities whose wastewater and other substances from the technological production process can pollute surface and underground water is prohibited, except for facilities of special importance for the defense of the country." it is stated in the announcement.
That is why, as Lakušić said, they cannot issue consent to the submitted documentation - the study on environmental protection of the company Tehnoput for the construction of an asphalt base in the III zone of sanitary protection of the source of Bolje sestre.
"Such a position of the Regional Water Supply was supported by the Board of Directors with a decision of August 15 last year, which took an explicit position that the company Tehnoput cannot be allowed to build an asphalt production plant within the sanitary protection zone of the source of Bolje Sestre", stated Lakušić.
He added that it is particularly problematic that the companies Putevi and Bemaks, as far as is known, do not have the necessary water permits, which are key to ensuring that the activities of asphalt bases do not endanger water resources and the environment.
"In light of these facts, it is necessary to start the process of relocating the Bemaks and Putevi asphalt bases to more adequate locations," said Lakušić.
That process, he said, requires coordination and cooperation between various competent institutions, as well as the companies that manage the bases.
Lakušić pointed out that new locations must be carefully selected, with detailed assessments of the impact on the environment and in accordance with all legal and regulatory requirements.
He said that the competent institutions must ensure that this situation is resolved in a way that will protect the environment and the health of the local population.
"The residents of Cijevna and other affected areas deserve peace and security, and it is of crucial importance that their concerns are taken seriously and concrete measures are taken to solve the problems caused by the asphalt bases," the statement said.
It is stated that a prerequisite for an orderly water supply of the Montenegrin littoral is zero tolerance towards violation of sanitary protection zones.
"We are deeply concerned about the dangers and consequences of granting permits for the operation of plants such as asphalt bases near the Cijevna and Morača rivers," the statement said.
Those plants, as Lakušić said, can have a significant negative impact on the environment, especially on water resources and the source of Bolje sestre.
He said that the fight for the preservation of the source of Bolje Sestre is of essential importance, not only for the Regional Water Supply, but for the entire economic and ecological balance of Montenegro.
"That's why we invite all relevant institutions, organizations and citizens to get involved and support the efforts to protect this unique source, in order to preserve the natural wealth of Montenegro and provide the necessary quantities of drinking water to the Montenegrin coast, which generates the largest revenues in the budget", it is stated in announcement.
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