Today, residents of Shtiqën and Nanga protested in front of the Kukes Municipality. They are demanding intervention for the lack of irrigation water in agricultural lands supplied by the Shtiqën Canal.
According to them, water has not been reaching agricultural lands for several days, putting the season's produce at risk.
Residents claim that part of the water resources are being used to produce electricity from hydroelectric power plants, while land irrigation is remaining unresolved.
They refer to the agreement according to which, from May 15 to September 15, the supply of water for irrigation must be guaranteed.
Residents say the situation is particularly worrying for families who earn their income from agriculture, as the lack of water can damage crops and lead to economic losses.
Faced with their concerns, the Mayor of Kukës, Albert Halilaj, held a meeting with the residents. According to them, during the meeting, a discussion was held on finding a concrete solution and it was agreed that a meeting would be held in the village of Shtiqën on September 3.
The institutions responsible for the administration and management of water resources are also expected to participate in this meeting, with the aim of solving the problem of irrigation water supply.
The Shtiqën Canal serves to irrigate about 820 hectares of agricultural land. Currently, about 120 hectares are planted with corn, alfalfa and wheat, making water supply an important issue for farmers in the area.
