While Montenegro, at least on paper, is living its brightest ecological days, the residents of Tuzi do not think so. That is why they blocked traffic for four hours today at the "Deponija" company, opposing the announced construction of a fifth sanitary vat.
They claim that their right to healthy air, water, and land is being violated and that the authorities must find an alternative.
In support of the locals, the protest was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Albanian Forum, Nik Đeljošaj, as well as leaders of the Tuzi Municipality.
The protest said that if a solution is not found in the next week, the traffic blockade will last for 12 hours.
Đeljošaj said that they are waiting for the institutions to react.
"If the institutions do not react, we will be here with the citizens to prevent further expansion of the landfill. I think that there is enough space in tank 4 for Tuzi, Podgorica and Zeta for many more years. And that this is not a regional landfill, nor is it a state landfill. This is a landfill for the citizens of Tuzi, Zeta and the municipality, partly belonging to Tuzi and that's it," said Đeljošaj.
The President of the Municipality of Tuzi, Lindon Đeljaj, said that yesterday the municipal inspection conducted an inspection at the landfill and found irregularities.
"A fifth bathtub is being opened there, and they don't have a permit. So the Communal Inspection ordered the works to be stopped," claims Đeljaj.
Petar Koljčević, a resident of Omerbožovići
"He opened the first tub, the second, he's going to fill everything. There's no more here, we can't stand it anymore. He's even been releasing this smell a little now, you can hear it a little. When he releases it, when the workers come here, it's really the end for us," said Petar Koljčević, a resident of Omerbožovići.
Another resident of Omerbožovići, Marko Gorvokaj, said that he would propose a 12-hour protest as early as Monday.
"...And, of course, if they reject us, they will have to elaborate on under which points of the law we do not have the right to defend our most basic right, which is to breathe clean air, to get our wish with clean water that is not toxic, and for our lands to be fertile, or should we say fruitful," he said.
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