Erzeni Bridge almost crumbling

The Erzen River bed is being exploited without any criteria along its course. Grumblesh residents cannot cross the bridge of their village, which risks crumbling.

The residents say that the excavations have displaced the bridge legs, and the water well is out of function. But the damages are bigger when it rains, because the landslides are approaching the residents and the nearby buildings are endangered by floods.

The Environment Inspectorate has fined this company once, but it continues its work unconcerned. The fines are not collected, because the Construction Inspectorate has never undertaken any action.

Inspector: Some companies have permits

Some of the companies contracted for building the Tirana Outer Ring Road have temporary permissions for exploiting the Erzen River. After the concern constantly raised by Top Channel, the Ministry of Environment confirmed that some of the companies have licenses to exploit the river.

The Environment Inspectorate explains that these environmental permissions have been given for big public works only, such as the Tirana Outer Ring, although Prime Minister Berisha ordered that the riverbed of this river must not be exploited. According to the Inspectorate, the inert companies will undertake the rehabilitation of the Erzen River.

The Erzen River has been placed in the list of unexploited rivers, by the Water National Council of June 21st 2006. Although this decision is still in act, the government is holding two standards by releasing another decision, that of exploiting the river for big public works.

Top Channel