Ilidža Municipal Council: Additional damage in flooded areas prevented through effective interventions

(Patria) - The 2nd extraordinary session of the Ilidža Municipal Council was held, discussing the state of natural disaster caused by floods in the municipality of Ilidža.

The session was attended by 28 council members, members of the Ilidža Municipal Civil Protection Headquarters, and the municipal mayor Nermin Muzur. On this occasion, Mayor Muzur presented reports from all nine extraordinary sessions of the Headquarters, as well as over 50 implemented conclusions.

The mayor emphasized that the past few days have seen the highest river water levels since measurements began in the municipality of Ilidža.

A preliminary report from the Ilidža Municipality Commission for Damage Assessment, which surveyed the affected areas, indicates that the funds required for damage remediation will exceed the funds currently available to the Municipality of Ilidža for this purpose.

With the decision to declare a state of natural disaster, the Municipality of Ilidža utilized dedicated funds, and it is important to note that other municipalities have also offered assistance in remediating the damage in the flooded areas. After a final decision on the damage assessment is made, a request can be submitted, and assistance can be expected from higher levels of government.

The following conclusions were adopted at today's session:

1.    The Ilidža Municipal Council, based on the provided Information and Report on measures and activities undertaken to address the consequences of the natural disaster-floods in the municipality of Ilidža for the period 04 - 08 November 2021, presented by the municipal mayor, supports all activities undertaken for prevention and emergency measures to address the consequences of the floods, and stands ready for all activities to be undertaken in the coming period. 

2.    The Municipal Council notes that the budget funds allocated for emergency measures have been spent, and based on the preliminary Damage Report, it is necessary to secure additional funds. Therefore, it proposes that the municipal mayor contact higher levels of government to secure the necessary funds for the remediation of the incurred damage.

3.    The Ilidža Municipal Council proposes to the municipal mayor that, when determining priorities for remediation and compensation of damages, priority be given to citizens whose individual residential buildings have suffered damage.

4.    The Municipal Council will hold a thematic session to discuss the state of watercourses in the municipality of Ilidža.

Mayor Muzur stated that all tasks were successfully completed through rapid interventions on the ground and, accordingly, expressed gratitude to the Government of Sarajevo Canton, the Cantonal Civil Protection, the Federal Civil Protection Administration, firefighters, police, all units of the Ilidža Municipality Civil Protection services, private companies that were available, as well as citizens who participated according to their capabilities in all activities carried out in recent days to prevent further damage in the municipality of Ilidža.

Activities to remediate the damage caused by the floods will continue in the coming period, and next year, efforts will focus on arranging riverbeds for prevention purposes.