Protest in Botun: "Those who think they will run over Botun are very mistaken. The whole of Zeta stands with Botun"

Several hundred residents of Botun and Zeta gathered in front of the village's sign to oppose the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, which recently received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The protest, which began at 18 pm, ended around 19.45:XNUMX pm.

The gathered once again reiterated that they will not allow the construction of a wastewater treatment plant.

One of the locals, Branko Popović, said that the people of Botunja have been learning how to live and function for decades. He called the collector "malicious and harmful teaching."

"We all tell them together that enough is enough. We are not against development, nor the European path. For us, development is about preserving nature and people, not poisoning them... This is not resistance out of hatred and spite. This is resistance out of love for nature and our youth, but also for our Zeta. Those who think they will run over Botun are sorely mistaken. The whole of Zeta stands with Botun," he said, emphasizing that there will be no collectors in Botun.

Novica Vukčević, one of the locals, thanked those present who came to support them in their fight against the collector. He stressed that they will not allow the collector to be built.

Slavko Vukčević, also a resident of Botuni, said that "this is not a political rally."

He said that's why they gathered in large numbers.

"I want to thank the people of Botunja for standing firmly and unitedly with the Local Community Board... There will be no construction of these facilities at this location, because we will not allow them to. Thank you for supporting us and understanding our problems," he said.

Local resident Jagoš Bećirović said that the rally was their honorable signature.

"A drop of water spilled the cup. How few of our victims were in Botun. There were dozens of sick people. Little children who went into the cold darkness instead of a warm parental home. Mujović does not have the heart and courage that would allow you to build this," said Bećirović.

Botun resident Milan Ćetković told Podgorica Mayor Sasa Mujović that "he is coming to this plot of land for nothing."

"We won't let them do this here," he said.

Duško Stijepović, a resident of Botun, asked the public and the media to draw attention to the pressure being exerted on them.

"That we are primitive, uneducated and don't know what is good for us."

Local resident Bojan Bašanović thanked those present for being there for them.

"We are witnessing a crackdown on Botun and Zeta that has never been seen in Montenegro before... They are trying to create a narrative that we want to destroy Podgorica. That the residents of Botun and Zeta are advocating for its further collapse," he said.

He said that a few years ago, "former mayor Ivan Vuković threatened them."

"Everyone has stood against us - institutions, the Capital, non-governmental organizations and so-called civic activists... They have tried everything so far. To divide us, to divide us... I call on Montenegro to actively get involved and help solve environmental problems in Zeta."

He emphasized that they are not against the collector, but that it is being built in Botun.

Among those gathered is the leader of the Democratic People's Party and MP in the Parliament of Montenegro, Milan Knežević.

Knežević said that he would defend "the lives of children in Zeta" with his life. According to him, "Mujović will not be allowed to build in Botun." As he claims, the construction of a second zone of the plant is planned, but without the knowledge of the people of Botun.

"Not a step back, we have nowhere to go, whoever betrays will be dug out. And now I say to all these barkers. Whoever betrays will be dug out. Not a step back, we have no way back. Zeta is ours, Zeta is back. Long live Zeta, Podgorica and Montenegro. Not a step back, everyone is welcome," said Knežević.

The residents of Botun, who have been opposing the construction of the plant for years, said earlier that they were not surprised by the EPA's decision, but that they would "defend their village with the only thing they have - their lives."

It is planned to build a wastewater treatment plant in the KAP industrial zone, on urban plots: UP2F, UP3F, UP4F and UP9F, i.e. cadastral plots/parts of cadastral plots: 1/3, 2/3, 15/3, 23/2, 23/4, 23/6, 27/8, 27/14, 1078/4 1078/8 KO Botun and 1111/45, 2914, 2915, 2916/1, 2917/1, 2918, 2919/1, 2920 KO Dajbabe, Capital City of Podgorica.

The existing wastewater treatment plant for Podgorica was built in 1978 and designed for 55.000 residents.

As stated in the Study, Podgorica, according to the 2023 census, has 179.505 inhabitants, while the wider area encompasses 10,4 percent of the territory of Montenegro and around 28,78 percent of its population.