The expansion of illegal construction in Žabljak seriously threatens to disrupt the natural and architectural harmony of the city, and the local government is worried that it could threaten the UNESCO status of the area. President of the Municipality of Žabljak Radoš Žugić he said that the preservation of the UNESCO status is of crucial importance, but that the competences of the local self-government when it comes to illegal construction are "more than limited".
In an interview with "Vijesta", Žugić says that Žabljak has been systematically neglected for decades and that today it is lagging behind other winter tourist centers. Better treatment by the state and the reconstruction of the ski resort on Savina kuk, he believes, create the preconditions for Žabljak to become the winter tourist center it once was.
A year has passed since you were elected as the President of the Municipality. Are you satisfied with what you have done so far and what would you single out as the greatest success of the new local government in the previous one-year period?
And we are more than satisfied with the past year 2023 because numerous infrastructure projects that were foreseen in the capital budget were realized. We prepared the development capital budget for 2024 in a high-quality manner. I would especially like to emphasize the satisfaction with the fact that, due to numerous aggravating circumstances, we have finally begun work on the rehabilitation of the city landfill and that we have made it possible to pave the road to the village of Tepca. We should not forget new roads, water pipes, street lighting networks, a new city park, as well as numerous other projects.
What major projects do you plan to implement in the coming years?
Through the capital budget of Montenegro, two large projects are planned, the construction of a transfer station with an access road, as well as the reconstruction of the main city street with a length of 2,8 kilometers. From the capital budget of the municipality, you can recognize significant projects that will greatly change the image of the city, and one of the most significant, if not the most significant, is the reconstruction of Durmitor's Warriors' Square, a project for which we received a conceptual solution after the competition.
What is the financial situation in the Municipality of Žabljak and what is the situation in local companies? Does the municipality have problems with revenue collection?
In the course of 2023, the municipality of Žabljak collected local revenues in a high-quality manner, as a direct consequence of which is the fact that the planned budget for 2024 is almost six million euros, and it is the largest so far. I would like to point out that in 2024 we will place special emphasis on the taxation of illegally built buildings and the collection of residence tax. Local businesses fully justify the needs of both local residents and tourists, supported by the state of local self-government.
How many employees work in local self-government, and how many in local companies and institutions? Is this the optimal number or are there excess employees?
There are 67 employees in the Municipality of Žabljak, which is certainly an optimal number that allows obligations to be regularly fulfilled and serviced, and in some places there is a need to increase the workforce.
Your political opponents accuse the new government of party and relative employment? Is and by how much the number of employees in the Municipality and local enterprises and institutions is higher compared to the period before taking over the management of the municipal administration?
The claims are absolutely baseless and far from the truth. It is a practice from the previous period that is being tried to impute to the new management. This is supported by the fact that in 2023 only two people are employed in the Municipality of Žabljak based on the employment contract.
Do you share the opinion of many citizens that Žabljak has been lagging behind many winter tourist centers in the surrounding area, even in Montenegro, because for years no investment has been made in modernizing the existing infrastructure? Is everything ready for the start of this year's winter tourist season?
We are of the opinion that Žabljak has been systematically neglected for decades and that today it is lagging behind other winter tourist centers. Better treatment by the state and the reconstruction of the ski resort on Savina Kuk create the preconditions for Žabljak to become the winter tourist center it once was. From our positions, we are making maximum efforts to make this winter tourist season in many respects different from the others, and we have prepared a whole calendar of activities that will greatly enrich our tourist offer during the winter months.
Do the citizens of Žabljak have adequate health care? Locals say that the lack of pediatricians is one of the pressing problems! Can local self-government help to solve this problem?
As for health care, the new local self-government has taken a serious approach to solving that problem. As you may know, the situation is not ideal, but we responsibly claim that things are moving in a positive direction. In support of this is the fact that the Municipality decided to use two apartments for the needs of the staff in deficit, after which we very quickly came across a positive signal and Žabljak got a specialist doctor who will constantly work and stay in Žabljak. In the spring of 2024, we are expecting the renovation of the Health Center, and thus the improvement of the conditions in which health care will be provided.
Do you have information on how many illegal buildings have been built in Žabljak and whether and to what extent illegal construction threatens the existing communal and other infrastructure? Who is responsible for this state of affairs, and could "Durmitor" NP be on the UNESCO red list because of this? What is the local government doing to stop illegal construction?
Illegal construction is a negative trend in the municipality of Žabljak that seriously threatens to disrupt both natural and architectural harmony. Preserving the UNESCO status for our municipality is of crucial importance and we share the concern that this expansion of illegal construction will threaten our status. Strengthened work of inspection services in the field is imposed as a priority. Also, amendments to existing and submission of new DUPs would significantly contribute to the preservation of space as our greatest resource. Please note that our competences are more than limited, but that we, in accordance with our capabilities, make maximum efforts to suppress illegal construction through the communal police service and communication with CEDIS.
How many applications were submitted for the legalization of illegal buildings and how many were legalized?
There are currently 186 decisions on legalization, of which 18 are in cases following requests from 2023. The number of requests for legalization in 2023 is 100.
What measures does the local administration undertake or plan to undertake in order to try to stop the emigration of residents, especially young people?
Through a series of measures, the Municipality helps young married couples who remain living in the city. In 2024, the Municipality will allocate 700 euros for each new-born child, each woman in labor who is on the records of the Employment Office will have a defined right to monetary compensation in the amount of 100 euros and will exercise that right with the Municipality of Žabljak. Also, in 2024, the Municipality will finance children's stay in kindergarten.
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