NGA ERMELINDA HOXHAJ
A group of citizens from Tropoja is expected to arrive in front of the Ministry of Energy today to request a meeting regarding the construction of hydroelectric power plants in the Valbona River Valley. Part of this group will also be the greatest fighter in the defense of this National Park, the American Catherine Bohne. The American from Valbona emphasized to "GSH" that she will remain in front of the ministry's door until they grant her a meeting.
"The situation in Valbona is very bad, bulldozers have entered and are digging. We can't wait any longer. On Monday, we will be a group of 5-6 people, community representatives and a lawyer, who will request a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Energy. We have requested a meeting and a response several times through official letters, but we have not received any response. Therefore, we will go there and stay all day, or two days if necessary, until they give us an answer and schedule a meeting. The law is being violated here, the residents have not been informed about these projects, which directly affect their lives and future. The construction of these hydropower plants was done in secret and we only learned about it in January 2016," American Catherine Bohne told "GSH".
In addition to the local community and civil society, voices against the construction of HPPs in Valbona Park have also increased within the majority. The head of the National Agency for Protected Areas (AKZM), Zamir Dedej, in an interview for "GSH" a short time ago stated that if there is political will, the construction of HPPs in Valbona Park can be stopped. According to him, it is absurd to say that the construction of these hydropower plants will not have an impact on the park's ecosystem.
ZAMIR DEDEJ
"I am against HPPs, especially in an area like Valbona. But this is not done with a pen, revoking these permits is not that easy. If the government unilaterally revokes the permits, the matter goes to court. The permit is not revoked, but suspended until the court decides and we do not know what the costs will be for the Albanian government for unilaterally terminating the contract. What I think is that the government, if it has the will, should sit down with the entities that have received permits, look at the documentation for any irregularities, or propose another territory, so that we get out of this area with great natural sensitivity.
Or if it is agreed with the local community, the capacity of the hydropower plants can be reduced, small HPPs can be built and they will necessarily have a smaller impact and the energy can be used to supply the villages in the area. Another thing that needs to be said is that the local community does not benefit from the construction of HPPs, except for losses and damage to the area, because the energy that will be produced will go to the big cities. The Parliamentary Committee on Productive Activities has suggested that an independent study be conducted by foreign experts to provide an impartial judgment. We have also suggested this to see the real impact and the possibility of minimizing the impact on the environment", emphasized the head of the protected areas, Zamir Dedej.
Among other things, he explained that in the territory of protected areas, the previous government has granted a total of 67 permits for hydropower plants, out of 520 permits and 173 concessions that it has granted in total. "We do not have a standing stream that has not had a hydropower project made. 520 permits and 173 concessions for hydropower plants have been granted, one was granted in 2014 by the current government. With the decisions they have taken, they have caused great damage. The only positive thing is that 60% of them have not yet started work. AKZM specialists are looking one by one at the environmental permits that have been granted in the territory of protected areas. In total, we have 67 permits, 40 of which are in the Librazhd area, in the Sherbenik-Jabllanicë park", - explained Dedej.
(el.sp/Albanian Newspaper/BalkanWeb)
