Construction inspection claims it cannot stop the destruction of Buna River, as no machinery was found on site

The construction inspection in Mostar, which was supposed to stop the destruction of the Buna River, declared itself incompetent in this case, as no construction machinery was found on site, writes the BH News Agency Patria.

Construction machinery has been destroying the banks of the Buna River near Blagaj for days, turning it into a plateau where weekend houses will most likely be built.

Narrowed riverbed, plateau between the bank and the road prepared for building weekend houses 

Residents of Mali Polje were shocked when construction inspection officers told them on Tuesday that they could not stop the destruction of the banks of this crystal-clear river, because no construction machinery was found on site at the time of their inspection.

Emir Bjelić, one of the residents of Mali Polje, told the Patria agency that he believed the inspection would stop the destruction of the river, but that did not happen.

- It is now clear that a very influential local mafia, who are above the law, are behind this entire project - said Bjelić.

Buna is the only river in Bosnia and Herzegovina into which no sewage flows, which is why the water from the river is drinkable, and the entire landscape has been declared one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Herzegovina.

Experts have also estimated that Buna water is medicinal, as it contains high concentrations of iodine.

The beauty of this landscape has been rapidly disappearing under heavy machinery in recent days. The residents do not know much about the whole case, except that the construction company MIP is preparing the land for construction.

The residents have sent warning letters to the construction inspection, the City of Mostar, the mayor..., and many other addresses. They are sad, they say, because no one wants to help them.

Bjelić said that MIP workers moved the local road to a nearby hill, while they turned the plateau between the road and the river, up to 400 meters long, into a plateau where buildings will be constructed.

- Not only did they move the road, thus gaining a plateau for construction, but they also widened the plateau, narrowing the Buna River's course. This will certainly lead to even greater floods in the local settlement, as well as the cemetery where the bones of our deceased are buried, which has been flooded before - says Bjelić.

- Several local businessmen are involved in this entire crime, who, with the help of people from SDA in Mostar and their partners, are trying to acquire these valuable locations. Some of our people from Mali Polje have also received money, and their task was to calm down the residents, but they did not succeed. The residents of Mali Polje will not allow the destruction of Buna; our generations grew up with it, and we want our children to grow up with it too - added Bjelić.

About a hundred residents of Mali Polje have so far managed to stop further work by construction machinery, and they patrol the riverbank every half hour, but they do not know what the future of their river will be, writes Patria.