Ćulafić: Government is actively working on the remediation of red mud pools

The Government of Montenegro is very actively dealing with the issue of remediation of the red mud basin, but unresolved property and legal relations are an obstacle that is difficult to remove, announced the Minister of Ecology Damjan Ćučafić before the deputies of the Parliament of Montenegro. The deputy of the New Serbian Democracy Vaso Obradović asked Ćulafić what stage the remediation of the red mud basin is in, as well as why it is so necessary "to solve this problem". "When the wind appears, the dust is blown over the local population. This poses a danger, both for the economy and for the population and animals. A very acute issue. An issue that the public has been waiting for to be resolved for a long time", said Obradović, adding that he is aware that this is a complex issue. Ćulafić said that this is an important and acute topic that has several consequences. "Starting from that, you have raised a very important question... The Government is dealing with this issue very agilely. But it is also an issue that represents one of the inherited problems that is not easy to solve. The processes of our successful economic transition to the state have led to the fact that not only have state-owned enterprises been looted and plundered, but they have been brought into a situation that is not only dangerous... In resolving this problem, we have successfully discussed and negotiated with the World Bank and managed to secure 32 million euros in a favorable loan. However, this is the estimated value of the works on the rehabilitation of the pool without VAT included," he said.

As he pointed out, the obstacle that is difficult to remove is "unresolved property-legal relations". "Here there would really be room to discuss how someone managed to sell property that is worth 10 or more million euros today in bankruptcy proceedings in 2014 for some 450.000 euros... Money has been provided for the rehabilitation, it is true that property-legal relations are an obstacle. However, the Ministry of Urbanism, Spatial Planning and Protection of State Property has formed a special commission that will deal with this issue". He said that the work of this commission requires a new analysis of the condition of the pool, or rather "the material that was deposited there". He appealed to the citizens of Zeta and Podgorica to be "a little more patient until we receive the analyses".

Obradović said that it is clear to everyone in Montenegro that there are ambiguities that institutions must resolve.