The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development must decide by November 14th on the appeal of the Municipality of Zeta against the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency, which approved the impact assessment study for the project to build a wastewater treatment plant (collector) in Botun.
This was answered by "Vijesti" from the department, which he manages Damjan Ćulafić.
"The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development is currently processing an appeal filed by the Municipality of Zeta against the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency No. 03-UPI-1971/36 of 5 September 2025. In accordance with the provisions of Article 130 of the Law on Administrative Procedure, the decision on the appeal must be issued and delivered to the party as soon as possible, and no later than 45 days from the date of receipt of the appeal. Since in this specific case the Municipality of Zeta filed an appeal, which this Ministry received on 30 September 2025, the prescribed period of 45 days for issuing a decision on the appeal begins on that day. Therefore, the deadline for issuing a second-instance decision is 14 November 2025," the Ministry of Ecology responded to "Vijesti".
The cornerstone for the collector in Botun must be laid before the end of this year, so that Podgorica does not pay sanctions that are measured in the amount of 100 million euros.
"Vijesti" announced two days ago that the Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property Slaven Radunović issued a decision according to which the Municipality of Zeta is recognized as a party in the proceedings of the Capital City and the Podgorica company "Vodovod i kanalizacija" for the issuance of a building permit for the construction of a wastewater treatment system in Botun.
This decision allows the Municipality of Zeta to challenge the construction permit for the collector if it were issued by Radunović's department. The decision is based on the Municipality of Zeta's appeal against the decision by which the Environmental Protection Agency gave the green light to the study.
The Zeta Municipality's appeal against the issued building permit could, the editorial office was told earlier, be enough to prolong the deadlines for the start of construction, and thus activate clauses on the payment of sanctions. It was also explained that it is not clear how the Zeta Municipality can be a party to the proceedings because the demarcation has not yet taken place, and the plots intended for the construction of the collector are registered in the Capital.
At the proposal of Radunović's department, the Government of Milojko Spajić this summer adopted the Spatial and Urban Plan of Montenegro, which, in addition to the construction of the plant in Botun, also envisages the construction of another, similar, plant in the municipality of Zeta.
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