MHE BJELAVA CASE: RS Government Fears Lawsuit from Suspected Investor

(Patria) - The Government of Republika Srpska has given its consent to the annex of the concession agreement for a small hydropower plant (MHE) on the Bjelava River in Foča, it was announced today to representatives of the Citizens' Association "Bjelava" from Foča and the Center for Environment at a meeting with Petar Đokić, Minister of Energy and Mining of RS, Srebrenka Golić, Minister of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology of RS, and Boris Pašalić, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of RS. This consent was given despite the fact that the investor "Srbinje putevi" is suspected of multiple criminal offenses, of which the competent institutions are aware.

"Our next step is a lawsuit against such a decision of the Government! Despite the fact that, in addition to all irregularities, consent was given to the annex, we will not give up the fight for Bjelava," said representatives of the Citizens' Association "Bjelava," whose struggle was supported by a petition signed by 3,000 citizens of the Foča municipality.

From the Center for Environment, they warn that by giving consent to conclude the annex to the concession agreement for the MHE on the Bjelava River basin in Foča, the RS Government rewarded an arrogant investor and sent a signal to all those who violate regulations that they can behave with impunity and carry out their plans without permits.

"We are not satisfied with the outcome of this nearly two-hour meeting, because we were presented with a fait accompli. Our intention was to prevent the signing of this annex and ultimately have the Government terminate the concession agreement without consequences for the budget of Republika Srpska. Instead, the RS Government has put itself in an unfavorable position, because now terminating the concession agreement will be almost impossible without such consequences," points out Viktor Bjelić from the Center for Environment.

He emphasizes that Minister Đokić said he cannot refuse to sign the disputed annex after the consent was given by the RS Government, nor can he seek its withdrawal. The ministers present at the meeting also stated that locals and activists still have the right to defend Bjelava.

"From what we were told, we understood that the investor must not start work until the environmental and building permits are issued. This means we are left to our own devices and cannot count on support from either the republic or local authorities. If that is the case, we will defend Bjelava to our last breath using all legal means!" says Dragana Drakul from the Citizens' Association "Bjelava."

Representatives of both associations emphasize that the investor must be sanctioned for violating the Law on Environmental Protection, the Law on Waters, the Law on Forests, the Law on Spatial Planning and Construction, and other regulations of Republika Srpska, and not rewarded by granting additional deadlines provided for in the annex to the concession agreement.

We recall, the case of the construction of the MHE Bjelava is linked to a series of criminal offenses, such as the diversion of the riverbed, usurpation of private land, and illegal clearing and theft of forest. The damage caused to the forest fund was confirmed today by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry of RS, who emphasized that it was done without their approval and knowledge.

"In the end, one gets the impression that the Government fears a lawsuit from the investor, who is suspected of multiple criminal offenses, more than it cares about environmental protection and the public good, which in this case has been significantly devastated," concludes Viktor Bjelić.