Federal Ministry delays annulment of riverbank fortification ruling in Goražde for two months

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - At the end of July, the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs sent a request to the Federal Ministry of Spatial Planning to annul the ruling on the construction of riverbank fortifications in Goražde.

Nasiha Pozder, a representative of Naša stranka in the Federal Parliament, sent an inquiry to the Federal Ministry regarding what has been done in this regard:

"While acknowledging the pandemic period, as well as the fact that there were annual holidays, two months is too long for the public not to know whether anything has been done on this issue. I expect the minister to inform us about it. It is shameful to delay the final decision. It is not only about respecting the inspection's decision, but also respecting the will of the vast majority of Goražde citizens who want free access to the river. Riverbank fortifications, as we know, not only physically prevent them from accessing but also from viewing the Drina River," said Pozder.

Sanela Klarić, also a representative of Naša stranka in the Federal Parliament, addressed the World Bank on the same matter.

"The construction of riverbank fortifications was financed by a World Bank loan. We have had meetings with the World Bank, a responsible creditor, regarding the riverbank fortifications before. We have committed to continuously informing this institution about developments related to this issue. For this purpose, I sent them the inspectorate's findings and an inquiry about their next steps regarding the construction of riverbank fortifications," says Klarić.

Naša stranka reminds that all their actions against the construction of riverbank fortifications were aimed at the way they are being built, that they prevent citizens from interacting with the river which has shaped almost all their life habits over the centuries, but that they are in favor of flood protection in a more humane and environmentally conscious way.

They recalled that Naša stranka has continuously dealt with this problem from the beginning and at different levels of government.

"Our councilor Aldijana Smailhodžić, as a city councilor, problematized this issue at the local level. At the cantonal level, Ibrahim Delić, our cantonal representative, did so, and at the federal level, my colleague Sanela Klarić and I took it over. We also participated in forums where we tried to explain to as many people as possible how harmful the current flood protection method is. We also met with other interest groups, from environmental organizations to representatives of the World Bank. However, we would hardly have succeeded if it hadn't been for the support of the citizens. And that is what I want to emphasize. To a large extent, unfortunately and justifiably, citizens' faith in the possibility of change through politics has been undermined. This example shows that politicians can mobilize around citizens' problems and even direct almost the entire infrastructure of the parties they belong to in that direction. In this case, it was Naša stranka, but I want to believe that citizens, with their persistence, can also direct political representatives of other parties to act in their interest. I want to encourage them in that direction," says Pozder.