STOP CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANT Bjelava: Citizens of Foča call on RS National Assembly to prioritize citizens' interests over individual interests

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The citizens' association "Bjelava" from Foča expects the "Proposal for a Declaration on the Protection of Rivers in the Republic of Srpska" to be voted on at the 14th session of the National Assembly of RS, thereby protecting the interests of citizens, not individuals.

"Namely, at the 14th session of the National Assembly of RS scheduled for February 9, the Proposal for a Declaration on the Protection of Rivers in the RS entity is on the second item of the agenda, where we expect the construction of the Bjelava small hydropower plant to be discussed. Citizens of Foča expect the national deputies, who have previously been informed in writing about irregularities and procedural omissions made in this case, to protect the interests of the citizens and make a decision in accordance with the demands of the citizens they represent in the highest legislative body of RS," stated the Association.

"We will not give up on our fight and our goal to stop the construction of the Bjelava small hydropower plant, and we expect the deputies of the RS National Assembly, and then the newly elected local government, to act in the name of the citizens who elected them. Everyone is aware of the fact that these are projects that are not in the public interest, and citizens are particularly concerned that despite all the facts and arguments pointing to irregularities, the construction of the Bjelava small hydropower plant has still not been banned. We expect the deputies of the RS National Assembly to set a good example of working in the interest of citizens for other competent local and entity institutions," emphasize the representatives of UG Bjelava.

We remind that the investor came to the site in March last year, during the state of emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus, and started work on the construction of small hydropower plants without any permits at the locations of Bjelava, Velika and Mala Bjelava, when citizens were prevented from expressing their protest. Although the investor, in his actions so far, has used numerous illegal means, violated a whole series of laws, and the Criminal Police Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RS has even filed a report against him for a series of serious criminal offenses committed, the RS Government has nevertheless given its consent to the annex to the concession agreement for the mini hydropower plant on the Bjelava River.

Neither the local nor the entity authorities have so far taken into account the signatures of 3,000 citizens who oppose the construction of small hydropower plants on the rivers of Foča.