Citizens of Srđevac, Poda, Bioča and Lozna will block the main road Bijelo Polje - Berane in the town of Srđevac for two hours today, saying that they will not allow the construction of a quarry in that place by the company "Imperial" owner, even at the cost of their lives. Vojislav Smolović. The concessionaire claims that it is an attempt to quote already existing quarries and steal gravel a few hundred meters from there, on the coast of Lim, stating that the protests are organized by employees of those companies, pointing out that they are doing this in response to the upcoming construction of the highway and an attempt to maintain the monopoly through astronomically high prices gravel.
On Friday, the locals staged the performance "We will not go to Srđevac another Jablanica", in front of the Municipality building, with which they alluded to the destruction of forests, water sources and agriculture, pointing out that it is the family business of the President of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje. Petar Smolović and his brother Vojislav Voj Smolović.
Salih Erovic said that the quarry bothers him because he is a lung patient.
"Quarry dust bothers everyone. That quarry will not only destroy the forest but also children and citizens, that's what we are fighting for. The forest can be restored, but human lives cannot", said Erović.
Sabahudin Zećirović pointed out that the Municipality conducted a 'secret' public discussion of the impact on the environment, without the presence of the citizens of that place.
"The Municipality did not inform us in time about the public hearing, and we did not know that it was being held on May 15 of this year. Nama is the president of the local community Safet Spahić delivered the invitation for the public hearing half an hour before its start. On May 16, we sent a complaint to the Municipality because we were not informed about the public hearing in time, asking them to postpone or cancel it, and on May 29, our lawyer filed a complaint requesting the cancellation of the public hearing and re-holding of the public hearing," said Zećirović.
The Municipality, however, said that everything was done transparently, reminding that the state, not the Municipality, decides on the granting of concessions.
Zećirović pointed out that the concession covers an area of conifer forest, which represents the lungs of the region, and that there are several springs nearby.
"From one in Podi, 35 households are supplied and from Srđevac, 30 households, that by opening a quarry, agriculture is also destroyed," said Zećirović.
Regarding the existing quarries, he explained that they do not bother them because they are about four kilometers from them and that they are closer to the residents of Bioč, and that this new one bothers them, because it is about a field that is about 150 meters from the water source, and similarly said most of the locals we talked to.
However, he does not think so Demo Erović from Pod, who said that the citizens of the area are very much bothered by the existing quarries, pointing out the numerous problems they have caused.
"How can they not bother, they destroyed our environment. Of the existing two, there is a lot of damage in the area of 7-8 kilometers, if you only see what kind of forest is around, you can't sit down anywhere. They are bothering us because of dust, blasting, and it is known how many of the sources can be blasted," Erović said, pointing out that several houses were cracked due to the consequences of blasting.
In addition, explained Erović, the machines that pass on the Petnjica - Bioč road load and damage the road, so there are big vibrations.
"The water of the Petnjica road, the bringing of which was donated by the deputy Rifat Rastoder, is endangered and no longer exists due to vibrations from the quarry. And those two quarries are close to the water supply and water source. The water sources have been moved and there is no water in them anymore, there is a fountain next to the road that has dried up, which the locals used when all the others got muddy. There are springs around the river Lješnica, which is completely devastated, and from that we can see what Smolović will do in the 28 leased hectares in that area", said Erović, adding that he lives 400 meters from the existing quarry and cannot live off the dust. , which destroys people, animals, fruits and vegetables.
They concluded that they will not give up on the request to terminate the contract, nor will they allow these places to become another Jablanica.
Vojo Smolović: We have obtained all consents and documents
The concessionaire and owner of "Imperial" Vojislav Smolović stated in his reply to "News" that the company prepared all the necessary documents and obtained all the necessary permits for the work of stone exploitation and that there are no houses, water or springs in the concession area, as mentioned by the locals and that the essence of the story is that the highway passes through there, which will pass right next to the "Imperiala" quarry.
"And our quarry is not only the closest, but also one of the best, because there the stone is in an alluvial state, that is, in a state of gravel, so no blasting is necessary and its exploitation is cheap. This threatens the interests of certain legal and illegal quarries in our vicinity. A part of those locals who manipulate the people work in other quarries and specifically work on illegal exploitation. They earn money from that and they are financially motivated to threaten the opening of a legal quarry in every way, which absolutely does not endanger anyone, especially before it has even been opened, and it is completely illogical that a certain part of the local population is in such a brazen way dealing with a quarry that has not been opened, which he didn't cause them any damage, and they don't deal with the existing quarries", said the owner of "Imperial".
Smolović noted that these protests maintain the monopolistic position of the existing quarries, which are operated by individuals who manipulate the locals, and that for this reason the price of sand is astronomically 60 euros per square meter, and not 10 euros, which is the real price.
Petar Smolović: It is the state that decides, not the municipality
The President of the Municipality, Petar Smolović, pointed out that in the same area, it was not the municipality but the state that gave 3 quarries through a public invitation, which went through a very demanding four-year procedure of obtaining multiple tests and approvals, and that the final one was issued by the State Geological Survey.
"When it comes to the transparency of the process, he reminded that there were two public calls each on the website of the Municipality and DL Pobjeda, and that the Local Community hired a lawyer who represented them due to the appeal procedure, as well as in all stages of the appeal procedure, reminding that even "The Ministry of Mining formed a joint commission with the locals, which did not make any objection to the procedure," said Smolović.
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