Fiks Fare investigative program confirmed today with voice and documents that an owner of the Natural Monument “Canyons of Osum” in Skrapar in southeastern Albania has come out
Andon Lushaj from Skrapari complained to the newsroom of the investigative show, indicating that he is a resident of the area, but lives in Vlora. But since he knew the Osum River and the Canyons well, which have started to be promoted as a tourist area in recent years, 5 years ago he erected a wooden structure near the Canyons, with permission from the Municipality of Skrapar, to which he paid the dues of 30 thousand lek per season.
Lushaj adds: “In 2022, a person named Dashi Satko came to me and told me that the place where I had erected the wooden structure was his property. He came to me with the police and they proceeded to seize my property,” Lushaj asserted, adding that the place was not his property, but the state’s, and it was on the river.
“How did the state land become suddenly private?! If it was private, I wouldn’t even go there. Neither there nor will I bathe in the river,” continues the citizen, as he claims that in the winter season, the place where he had the wooden structure, is flown with water.
“I was in harmony with the environment. Where were the protected areas, when did this owner of the river come out?” claims the whistleblower, as he adds that there are several activities near the Canyons, but only his was stopped and closed.
After this complaint, the journalists of “Fiks Fare” talk with the mayor of Skrapar, Adriatik Mema.
“The place where the wooden structure is built is state property, regardless of the claims that a certain individual has on that surface! The issue is that I gave permission for the exercise of this business to this gentleman (the whistleblower) on that area which is, let’s say, by the river. While the wooden structure is still higher than this. During the past year, I have encountered problems and complaints from another entity that claims that this is his property because it bought a forest, let’s say very close to this area,” says Mema, while adding that the Agency of Protected Areas also claims that it is protected area.
Fiks Fare also contacted the person who became ‘owner’ of the entrance to the Canyon, Dashi Satko, asking him about this issue.
He says: “I did not say that it is private property! I have shown the documents where it has been determined by an expert where the land is visible, this is with official documents. What documents does that gentleman have?” he asserted.
Journalists asked him that the whistleblower does not claim ownership, but only had a contract with the municipality.
After this interview, the journalists went to the Land Registry of Skrapar. But nobody was in the offices. They communicated by text with the current head, Florian Meno, but he said that contact with individuals is not allowed on these issues.
To date, no response has been given, however, Fiks Fare has provided the complete card of this property, from the initial registration and the changes over the years.
In all the certificates, the property is termed “forest” but on the ground it is shale, mud and water! These certificates were signed by former managers of this cadastre, who are cousins and relatives of the people who first benefited from that property.
At that time, in 2010 or 2012, several maps were made, but in 2020 the property in question was halved, being named S1 and S2. Part S1 is owned by Mr. Aries Satko.
But this property that goes up to the middle of the river, is included in the ‘natural monument’ area, which in its turn has brought national and international tourist interest to the area in recent years.
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