Authorities in Široki Brijeg silent on construction of 15-meter-high walls

(Patria) - Mayor of Široki Brijeg Miro Kraljević believes that in recent days there has been excessive finger-pointing at a mysterious construction site near the city, for which he himself admits he does not know what it is about. Even the workers hired for the preparatory works do not know what is being built in the Trn settlement.

-   It is private land. The man has the right to develop it. Perhaps the walls he is erecting around the plot should not have been so high, or they could have been better arranged in tiers, one could argue, but as far as the city is concerned, there is still nothing controversial about it, Kraljević told Patria.

Some councilors believe that such conclusions are made too lightly, because the walls being built are along the bed of the Ugrovača River, and there is objectively a fear of disrupting the ecosystem.

-    It is strange that no one in the municipality knows what is being built in the city area. I asked a year ago, at the last session of the City Council a colleague inquired about this project, but there are no new information, councilor Antonija Banožić (HDZ 1990) told us.

It is an open secret that the construction site, which spans 10 hectares, is owned by the richest man in Široki Brijeg, Jozo Musa. Everyone will admit that the area has been cultivated by the works so far, but they are not indifferent to the 15-meter-high walls along the river, into which millions of marks have been invested. It is almost impossible for journalists to reach Musa. Not for the mayor, but he claims that in all contacts he remained without an answer.

-    I do not doubt that there will be something useful for Široki Brijeg there, but it has dragged on, and from this perspective we might have acted differently. A business zone is planned there; for construction it is necessary to obtain a building permit, and then we will find out what the investor plans, says Kraljević.

Councilor Dalibor Ravić (HRS) believes that 200 people will be employed there, that is what is being unofficially said.

-    I am in no way against construction, because it was previously neglected land, and over these years a certain number of people secured their livelihood by working there. As a councilor, however, I have an obligation to seek information on behalf of the citizens. It would be logical to me that for such walls a building permit had to be obtained, says Ravić.

The city's urban planning department distances itself with claims that inspection bodies, which should determine on the ground whether something is being built illegally, are not within their jurisdiction.

-    According to the subdivision plan, a location permit was obtained to form several building plots at that location. On those plots, only what is foreseen by the development spatial planning acts will be allowed to be built. It is important that when it comes to obtaining a building permit, it will be precisely defined what can be built at that specific location, explained Borislav Zovko, head of the urban planning department, at the last session of the City Council.

According to Patria's findings, the project has nothing to do with the activities of the Atlantic Group, of which Musa is a co-owner. Sources from this company say that it is his private project about which they know nothing either.

Earlier, Musa mysteriously said that Široki Brijeg will remember him for this project. In Široki Brijeg, it is still being speculated whether it could be a tourist complex, an ethno village, and some even mention a prison. Regardless of the reputation Musa apparently enjoys with the authorities, the local community should soon have more concrete answers.

-    Once again, I want to say that I believe we will all benefit from it and that I have nothing against the construction, but I doubt that anyone else would have the opportunity to do something like this, emphasized councilor Ravić.

So far, the forest has been cut, the land leveled, and a hill next to the river demolished. What comes next and whether it will remain shrouded in secrecy is the responsibility of the local community, but also of the inspection bodies.