River exploitation banned from November 1st
02/11/2011 00:00
Linda Rama: Between Family, Work and Albania’s Future 18/08 14:30
The National Urban Construction Inspectorate started the action for stopping the illegal exploitation of riverbeds.
After many denouncements made by Top Channel for several months for the destruction of the Erzen River by inert companies, the inspectorate has decided to not allow illegal exploitation of riverbeds.
“We will stop the river massacre”, says the chief engineer Gezim Dauti, who leads the action.
The Environmental Inspectorate declared that the exploitation of the river was made through a request that the Ministry of Transports had made to the Ministry of Environment. The request said that the Road Directory was demanding the exploitation of the Erzen riverbed for the construction of the Tirana Outer Ring Road. This request was refused, and it was up to the National Urban Construction Inspectorate (NUCI) to intervene. The latter not only has not stopped the exploitation, but has also allowed the construction companies to continue their work, although the request had been refused.
The massacre has continued for several months, causing a very big environmental damage, regardless the consequent reports on Top Channel for several months.
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
