Polekol and the Right to Water initiative are pleased to inform the public that the planned urbanization of Rtnja has been successfully thwarted thanks to the joint action of citizens and organizations throughout Serbia.
The draft of the Spatial Plan for the Rtanj Special Nature Reserve, which envisaged wind parks, quarries, a ski resort and small hydroelectric power plants, was significantly changed after the massive response of citizens at the Public Review held on October 11 in Sokobanja.
Citizens fought for nature
“The public inspection was marked by great interest from citizens, and a large number of objections were received, most of which were accepted. This confirms the quality and validity of those objections. It is commendable that the commission acted lawfully and openly accepted the objections,” said Strahinja Macić, a lawyer from Polekol, who attended the four-hour session.
Vladan Dimitrijević from the Sokobanje Ecological Society emphasized the consensus of the citizens: “People from the commission saw that we are all against excessive urbanization. I am satisfied that most of our objections were accepted.”
Nature protection Rtnja priority
Of particular concern were the planned wind farms, which would threaten forests and the habitats of rare species such as the bald eagle and the peregrine falcon. Dimitrijević warned: “Setting up wind farms would be disastrous for the natural world of Rtnja.”
In addition, the proposal for a ski resort met with strong opposition because Rtanj does not have adequate conditions for a sustainable ski resort. “A ski resort would require huge amounts of water for artificial snow, which is not feasible on a mountain with limited water resources,” explained Dimitrijević.
Plans for quarries and small hydroelectric plants have also undergone changes. “Thanks to the objections submitted, the plan now does not envisage the construction of small hydroelectric plants,” added Macić.
The fight continues.
Although many objections have been adopted, problematic points such as the planned construction of reservoirs on river courses are still present. Polekol will continue to monitor future decisions to ensure that Rtanj remains an untouched natural oasis.
“We already have enough failed examples of Zlatiborization in Serbia. Rtanj must not become one of them,” concluded Macić.
The power of civic activism
Polekol and the Right to Water initiative thank all citizens, associations and experts who joined together to protect Rtnje from unsustainable projects. More than 100,000 citizens shared the invitation on social networks, while a large number of them sent objections to the commission, which showed that the institutional struggle can produce results.
Citizens are invited to remain alert and active in all future environmental protection processes. Rtanj deserves to remain an untouched natural treasure for future generations!