Politics stronger than the will of the people, construction of mini hydropower plants begins in Kruščica near Vitez

Despite opposition from residents, construction of a mini hydropower plant began this morning in Kruščica near Vitez, reports the Patria agency.

Recall, several hundred residents of the local community of Kruščica in the municipality of Vitez had previously blocked the path of machines that were supposed to start work on the construction of two mini hydropower plants on the Kruščica River, after which police detained and fined several residents for, as they stated, disturbing public order and peace.

At least a dozen women from this village, including pregnant women, were injured after members of the special police of the MUP of SBK forcibly removed them from the protest.

Residents of Kruščica fear that due to the construction of the mini hydropower plant, they will be left without drinking water, as well as without a natural pearl. The construction of the mini hydropower plant will also threaten the water supply of Zenica.

The Vijesti.ba portal previously reported that there are serious indications that behind the construction of mini hydropower plants on the Kruščica River is the director of the Development Bank of FBiH Salko Selman.

The director of the Sarajevo company Higracon, which is building these mini hydropower plants on Kruščica, is Armin Hadžialić. Hadžialić is, writes the Vijesti.ba portal, citing a highly informed source, the brother of Sabahudin Hadžialić, who was Selman's advisor during the time when Selman was prime minister of SBK. Selman's family already has experience with mini hydropower plants. The name of the director of the Development Bank, Selman, has already been linked in the media to illegal activities.

Residents of Kruščica previously told Patria that they tried to stop the destruction of the river, but that special forces broke up the peaceful protests, and that the number of special forces who came to remove the peaceful residents indicates that the entire project is backed by the highest political leadership of the SDA.

Four residents of Kruščica were fined a total of 1,200 KM for opposing the construction of mini hydropower plants, writes Patria.