Container, symbolically called “House for the river defense”, which will be a place of resistance and gathering of activists fighting for river Bjelava, whose devastation and destruction has been going on since March last year.
It is open to anyone who wants to join this fight or to learn more about it. It is placed at Bukovica and the unique stamp was given to it by the artist Vladimir Milanović, who painted it with illustrations aimed at raising awareness of the harmful effects of small hydropower plants (SHPPs) on rivers and the environment.
“The container was placed where the works on the construction of small hydropower plant on river Bjelava began, and from where the machines destroyed the riverbed and destroyed its watercourse. Our goal is to be a symbolic place of our gathering and resistance to this project that threatens to completely destroy Bjelava. We decided on this type of struggle, following the example of activists throughout BiH who defended their rivers in this way, guarding them day and night. We will be on duty here in shifts, we will guard the river and we will not allow the machines to pass again and continue their work”, said Jovan Drakul from Association of Citizens for Bjelava, Foča.
Vladimir Milanović pointed out that he was honored to be part of this fight and that he was given the opportunity to paint a container.
“These are illustrations that simply show all the damage caused by small hydropower plants. This fight for Bjelava is fight for survival and for the environment, “Milanović said.
Center for Environment and Coalition for the Protection of Rivers of BiH have been warning for years about the devastating construction of hydropower plants and the fact that rivers are at great risk of losing their greatest values: quality water and rich biodiversity.
“House for the river defense” symbolizes the struggle of all activists who stand for the protection of rivers in BiH and represents a message to investors and the authorities that activists will not give up their defense. River Bjelava is an example of the government’s support for the investor, despite the obvious crime and the opposition of the locals to this project. The question is when will the Declaration for the Protection of Rivers of RS, which was recently unanimously adopted by the National Assembly of RS, start to be applied? If Bjelava is not to be protected, a declarative statement on the need to protect rivers loses its meaning. Center for Environment will certainly submit to the RS Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and Ecology comments on the Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment for this project, which is currently available for the public consultation, and point out a number of omissions related to this case”, said Jelena Ivanic, Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign coordinator in BiH from Center for Environment.
We remind you that at the beginning of March last year company Srbinjeputevi took advantage of the emergency situation and started illegal works in the Bjelava river basin, having only a concession agreement, without the necessary permits. Neither the local nor the republic inspection reacted to the obvious violation of the law, usurpation of private property, deforestation and relocation of the riverbed. Despite a series of lawsuits, arguments and pointing out the failures of the institution, they clearly stand by the investors.