The procedure for the collector in Potkrajci has been suspended, in the Municipality of Bijelo Polje they claim that the project has not been abandoned

The procedure for deciding on the need to prepare an environmental impact assessment study for the collector in Potkrajci has been suspended, because the party withdrew its request.

The Municipality said that it was only a matter of technical details, and not about giving up on the construction of the collector.

The construction of the collector in Poktrajci has not begun even after 12 years, and its construction has been opposed for years by the residents of Poktrajci, Strojtanica, Njegnjevo and Rasovo, due to environmental threats, fear of unpleasant odors and long-term negative impact on agriculture, which is the primary source of income for most residents.

They protested several times and said that if the work starts, they will block the machines.

The suspension occurred after the Secretariat for Construction of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje withdrew the request, which represents a major victory for the residents of this Bijelo Polje settlement, who have been strongly opposed to the construction of the plant at this location from the very beginning.

According to the official decision of the Agency (number 03-UPI-4329/5), signed by Director Milan Gazdić, it is stated that the decision-making process on the need to prepare an environmental impact assessment study for the facility on cadastral plots in the administrative district of Potkrajca is being suspended because the party withdrew its request.

The Municipal Secretariat for Construction submitted a request for suspension in mid-January this year, after which the state agency applied the Law on Administrative Procedure and issued a final decision to terminate the process.

Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević said in September last year that there is a very likely possibility of relocating the location for the collector in Bijelo Polje, for whose construction the deadline has been extended again.

The Municipality of Bijelo Polje said at the time that they had done everything in accordance with their responsibilities and obligations to ensure that the Wastewater Treatment Plant project was implemented in a quality manner and in accordance with plans and procedures in partnership with the EU Delegation, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, the European Investment Bank and PROCON, and engaged international experts from the EU.

In addition to the project documentation, the first phase of the sewage network was implemented (the main collector and part of the secondary sewage network were built, financed with grant funds in the amount of 3,1 million euros), grant technical support was provided and the main project for the expansion of the sewage network - Phase II was prepared, and property relations for the location were resolved.

NOTE: The original text incorrectly stated that the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro had suspended the procedure for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant in Potkrajci. Instead, In fact, the procedure for deciding on the need to prepare a study on the environmental impact assessment of the collector has been suspended.. We apologize to our readers for the error.