Hot: Protection of Ćehotina confirms that Bijelo Polje respects nature conservation standards

The protection of the Ćehotina River is confirmation that Bijelo Polje respects nature conservation standards, said Jasmila Hot, a councilor for the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) in that city.

"After the Đalovića Cave in Bijelo Polje was declared a natural monument, we made a decision to declare the Ćehotina River a protected area. This places another pearl of Montenegrin rivers under legal and institutional protection, which represents a significant value for the municipality of Bijelo Polje and Montenegro. The Ćehotina River area completes the overall protection of the upper course, not only in the territory of the municipality of Bijelo Polje, but also in the territory of the municipality of Pljevlja, which did not accept the proposal of the NGO 'Eko-tim' on the protection of the river. The municipality of Pljevlja does not want to accept the position of the profession and the will of citizens regarding the 'Upper Course of the Ćehotina River' nature park, although all planning documents, from the spatial plan of Montenegro to the local PUP, provide for the protection of this area, and the relevant ministry has also given its consent to the proposed decision," the statement reads.

Hot says that the expertly based claims of the Municipality of Pljevlja, according to which the declaration of the Ćehotina River as a nature park is not in line with the protection of the Otilovići water source, are not true either.

"While the local government in Pljevlja is not in favor of declaring the Ćehotina River a natural monument, the citizens of Pljevlja want their first nature park, which they clearly demonstrated through info days, which were organized by the NGO 'Eko-tim' during the summer months. However, the declaration of the Ćehotina River as a protected area represents confirmation that Bijelo Polje is keeping pace with European standards of nature conservation, but also sends a clear message that development and protection can and must go together. This gives the local community the opportunity to valorize natural resources through sustainable models, from ecotourism to research and educational programs, while preserving what is most valuable," the DPS councilor said.