The cornerstone in Botun as early as next week?

The capital and the Podgorica-based company "Vodovod i kanalizacija" could start construction of a wastewater treatment plant (collector) as early as next week, because within that period, the authorities in the Ministry of Planning, Urbanism and State Property (MDUP) should make a decision based on the construction application submitted two days ago, the director of "Vodovod i kanalizacija" told "Vijesti". Aleksandar Nišavić.

Commenting on the opposition of the people of Botunja, he said that the company and the Capital City "deeply respect the need and right of every citizen to express their opinion."

"However, all activities must be carried out in accordance with the law, which means that the attitude of citizens must not jeopardize the implementation of the project. That is, it must not involve presence on the urban plot intended for the implementation of this phase of the project," said Nišavić.

They have until Friday to remove the (new) tent.

The people of Botunja, who have been on duty at the location planned for the construction of the collector for a few weeks, claimed yesterday that they dismantled the tent and set up a new one, but the Municipal Inspectorate ordered them to remove it.

They told the "Vijesti" team upon arrival that the inspector verbally stated that "the first tent had been dismantled", and that the current one was "a new one located closer to the sign with the name Botun".

Just a few minutes later, after some locals gave statements to reporters, the inspector appeared with a new solution - the people of Botunja have two days to remove the new tent.

A local from Botuna Slavko Vukcevic said that the first tent was dismantled in accordance with the law.

"The inspector noted that the first tent was dismantled. However, we have set up a new one due to the rain. We will remove this one as well when the weather conditions improve," he said at the time, adding that he would not leave the location where the current tent is located.

Local News Vukcevic He pointed out that they received a new decision ordering them to remove the tent within two days.

"We will try not to remove this tent. We will defend it, but we will not remove it ourselves. We removed it first, we will not remove it second. We have to take shelter because of the rain. The inspector left the solution on the table and did not say when it will come," said Vukčević.

The municipal inspection first ordered the residents of Botunja to remove the tent last Friday, claiming that it was set up on territory owned by the Capital City. They then gave them a three-day deadline, which expired yesterday...

Mujović's offer

On Tuesday, the people of Botunja spoke for several hours with Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović, who informed them during the meeting that the Capital City could pay potential damages of around 177 million euros if the plant is not built at the currently planned location.

According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", Mujović also explained that the search for a new location, as well as everything that the laws stipulate, would take at least three years.

He also presented an offer to the locals in case construction of the plant begins.

According to information from "Vijesti", this offer includes connecting households in Upper Zeta to the system.

"That is, 30 percent of the total number of sewage connections in the entire Zeta will be connected to this system... The capital city is committed to ensuring that within two years of the commissioning of the new plant, there will be no unpleasant odors in the settlements of the Krivi Most area and in lower Zeta. Priority in hiring employees - about 50 new jobs - will be given to the residents of Botuni, that is, the citizens of Zeta."

Mujović also offered the people of Botunja that "representatives delegated by the municipality of Zeta be included in the entire process of building the plant."

"After the construction of the plant, measurements of water quality, air and potential soil contamination will be carried out. These measurements will be repeated after six months of operation. If it turns out that any of the parameters are not in accordance with European standards, we are obliged to suspend the operation of the plant."

The offer to the people of Botunja also included the rehabilitation of the red mud pool, for which the Government of Montenegro provided 32 million from the budget for the following year.

"After discussions with the contractor, it was agreed that the contract will be available to all interested parties from the middle of next week, to the extent that it does not violate the contractor's intellectual property rights. Organizational model of the plant - we will form a new company, Otpadne vode Podgorica, and carry out activities related to profit sharing. This is a legal issue and requires additional consideration. We are ready for dialogue on this issue as well," reads the offer that Mujović presented during a meeting with the residents of Botuni.

In the middle of last month, some residents of Botunja set up a tent at a location in the industrial zone of the former Aluminum Plant (KAP), where the construction of a collector for the capital is planned.

They announced that they would stand guard at the site until the scheduled referendum in Zeta, in case the Podgorica authorities start construction earlier. They previously pointed out that they have been fighting against the construction of a collector at that location for 20 years, and proposed a plot near the Luča bridge for the new location of the facility.

According to the Draft Budget Decision of Podgorica for next year, the city administration plans to allocate more than 17 million euros for the construction of collectors.

Podgorica recently received a building permit for the project, but the residents of Botuni have said that construction will not be allowed...