Sports hall Ada in Pljevlja has stopped providing its services to users today, due to the lack of working conditions caused by the accumulated financial and other problems they face in their work. This was announced after a meeting held today by management representatives with users of their services.
The Municipality and the Government of Montenegro have been given a deadline until November 15 to resolve the situation in the hall, when, if there is no reaction, they will radicalize their protest.
"The sports center 'Ada' has been brought to a situation where it can no longer provide services to its users due to the accumulated problems of many years. As a reminder, the Sports Center 'ADA' has been blocked for more than three months due to accumulated and unpaid obligations to the Cleanliness of Pljevlja, which led to the termination of the debt reprogramming to the Electric Power Company of Montenegro, as well as the settlement of obligations to the Tax Administration of Montenegro and the impossibility of procurement of fuel for the upcoming winter season and adaptation of the boiler room according to the recommendations of the competent inspection", the announcement states.
They point out that without concrete and quick reactions from local and state authorities, it is impossible to continue the work of the hall, which is of public interest for Pljevlja and Montenegro.
"The sports center 'Ada' has no more time to wait and negotiate with the Government and the Municipality of Pljevlja, it needs concrete steps and measures so that it can continue servicing its users who depend on them. Pljevlja is one of the most polluted cities in Europe, and playing sports for our children is the only way for them to develop properly, to avoid being on the street and tempted to take a path they shouldn't go, because we all know that a healthy body and a healthy mind '! In the Sports Center 'Ada', athletes from the city of Pljevlja train, students of the Vocational High School hold physical education classes, and important sports events are held that gather a large number of our fellow citizens. Hereby, we, the sports workers of the Municipality of Pljevlja, teachers of physical education at the Secondary Vocational School, management and employees of SC Ada, are asking the Government and the Municipality of Pljevlja and all those who can help the survival of this institution of public interest to help so that this facility will continue to operate and remain a source of pride. Pljevlja and Pljevljaka", it is stated at the end of the announcement.
Due to account blocking, employees were not paid three wages.
"We earn a fourth salary, and we can't even pay off our debts to creditors," Vukićević said.
Due to the blocking of the account in the amount of around 70 thousand euros, and the inability to settle the obligations, Elektroprivreda canceled the debt reprogramming for the consumed electricity, so they expect the electricity to be turned off in the hall soon.
As of August, Ada's electricity debt is over 50.000 euros.
The hall is not able to fire up the boilers, even though the temperatures drop below zero, because the irregularities in the boiler room, which were pointed out in February by the environmental inspector Velibor Kljajević, were not corrected until September 15.
"SC Ada is ordered to take appropriate technical measures at the boiler plant owned by Ada with the aim of reducing hazardous and polluting substances and then perform measurements and submit them to the environmental inspection for inspection. The deadline for the execution of the measure is September 15.9.2024, XNUMX," the decision states. environmental inspector.
The inspector stated that the concentrations of powdery and other polluting substances were above the prescribed values.
Vukićević said that they did not do anything to reduce the pollution pointed out by the inspector, because the hall does not have the money to carry out these tasks.
"The boiler room is dilapidated because it is 25 years old and needs to be overhauled, which requires serious funds. Without heating, training in the hall is impossible," he added.
The Municipality of Pljevlja recently said that they are ready to take over the management and ownership of Ada from the state, if the current owners settle the outstanding debts.
As explained, the Municipality would participate in the settlement of the outstanding debt as a percentage of its share in the ownership of the hall.
The municipality of Pljevlja is the owner of 12,89 percent of the sports hall in Pljevlja, the Government of Montenegro - Ministry of Finance 57,88 percent, the Directorate of Public Works 25,96 percent and others who participated as donors in its construction 3,27 percent.
"The municipality has no legal basis, nor is it allowed to participate in the repayment of debts when it comes to contributions, because the majority owner is the state. In my opinion, this current way of dual ownership is the worst. Or for the hall to be owned by the state or municipality. I insisted at the meeting in Podgorica that they resolve the contribution debt, and we will find a model for the rest of the debt in the local administration. According to the ownership share, the municipality should participate with about sixty euros. The government has the possibility of state aid up to 200.000 euros, but we still have 200.000 unresolved. The municipality is not a stumbling block for the hall. We will take over the hall tomorrow, but we want it to be at zero and maybe join it to the Sports and Recreation Center and take over the employees to make it one unit," said the Vice President of the Municipality, Darko Gazdić, recently.
He said that the hall in Pljevlja is the only one in Montenegro that is not owned by the municipality.
Debts from the previous period reached the amount of 460.000 euros, of which over 300.000 euros are owed to the Tax Administration.
The planned income for this year is 138.000 euros, the most from the rental of business premises is 50.000 euros, and 40.000 for the rental of a large hall for matches and training and recreation. From the rental of a small hall to the Vocational High School, an income of 8.000 euros is planned, a donation of 25.000, a donation of 25.000, 10.000 euros from the payment of heat energy, and 5.000 euros from income from tournaments and other events.
Seven workers are currently employed in the hall for an indefinite period of time, and during the burning season, two workers are employed in the boiler room.
Workers receive minimum wages, and the age structure of employees is unfavorable. The oldest worker is 64 years old, and the youngest is 46. Some of them, although they have the conditions for a pension, are not able to get it due to unpaid taxes and contributions.
The coal mine is the only company that sponsored the hall through coal donations.
RK Rudar: Responsible for solving Ada's problems, we are now at the top of the table, and it depends on you where we will be at the end of the season
Handball club Rudar also made a statement, from which they called on those responsible to solve the problems that Ada faces in her work.
"Dear friends, all of you who have sport and Pljevlja in your heart, we want to inform you that from today we are without conditions for training in our Ada hall due to problems in its operation! We cannot remain silent while our sports house is collapsing. Without getting into who is to blame, we invite, appeal, and ask all those who decide the fate of the Ada Sports Center to solve the problems with its functioning without delay, because Pljeval sport, which is the face of this city, is at risk. Our club is fighting for the title great effort and enthusiasm of everyone in the club. Now we are at the top of the table from where we are sending you appeals, rather cries, not only from the current generation but also from many generations before and those who are yet to come, don't let the sport of Pljevlja, our recognizable brand, be extinguished", it is stated in press release of RK Rudar.
They reminded that around 100 children and young people are currently training in the club, and that today the national team colors are defended by three of their former seniors and a significant number of national team members in younger selections.
"We are now at the top, and it depends on you who decide where we will be at the end of the season," the statement said.
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