In the town of Donja Suvaja in the municipality of Gračac (Croatia) on 25.07.2024. In 2008, a protest was held against the construction of a small hydroelectric power plant (MHP) directly below the Una Spring. The started works on this MHE attracted a lot of public attention in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and the entire region, while during the peaceful protest gathering only one demand was made: Immediate suspension of all works!
The support of the association “Una” Serbs and the townspeople of Donja Suvaja, by attending this protest, was also provided by the representatives of the regional association “Defend the rivers of the Balkans” from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which once again confirmed that the rivers unite us.
Lejla Kusturica, activist of the Foundation Studio for Social Change – ACT Sarajevo, pointed out the necessity of joint action in such cases. “It hurts us when we look at the daily destruction of our rivers, forests and nature in general. People in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and other countries of the region face the same problems – the destruction of our environment by harmful interventions that are most often the result of a combination of investor lobbies and authorities that act as their services. We provide full support to the local population in the fight against the construction of a small hydroelectric power plant at the very source of Una, our queen, and we say that there is and will be no place for such projects that bring profit exclusively to a handful of investors. at the same time causing enormous and irreparable damage to our nature. We will not give you a drop of the Una, Neretva and all other Balkan rivers!”, said Kusturica.
Information about the disastrous plans for the construction of the MHP on Vrel Una, one of the most important rivers in the region, was delivered to the public in Serbia by the “Right to Water” initiative. Žaklina Živković, an activist of the aforementioned initiative, points out that the Una River is a natural resource that must be preserved and not destroyed due to the miserable percentage of energy. “Irregularities accompanying this project, as well as the disastrous impact on nature and the community, are well known to us from other struggles for the environment in the region. We are encouraged by the bravery of the local initiative and determination to preserve the river Una, and the network Defend the rivers of the Balkans stands in solidarity with them. We will do everything in our power to persevere in this fight”.
We would like to point out that the works on the construction of the aforementioned MHP at the Una Spring, which is recognized and protected as a NATURA 2000 area, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina it has the status of a national park, were started on the basis of permits and consent from eight and 10 years ago. The decision of the relevant Croatian ministry from 2013, when they decided that it is not necessary to prepare an environmental impact study for this project, is particularly problematic.
These developments confirm that for the investors of harmful hydropower facilities, who look at our waterways exclusively through their profit, there are no untouchable rivers, which is particularly worrying, especially in conditions where modern trends focus on preserving the ecological balance and sustainable development of local communities.
We remind you that in June of this year, the European Union adopted, the first of its kind, the Law on Nature Restoration. This law, among other things, foresees the obligation of member states to restore Natura 2000 areas as a matter of priority by 2030. While in habitats that are in poor condition, member states must take measures to restore: at least 30% by 2030, at least 60% by 2040, at least 90% by 2050. In addition, the law introduces the obligation to turn at least 25,000 km of rivers with dams and barriers into free-flowing rivers by 2030. For this to happen, member states must take measures to remove artificial barriers in surface waters. Taking into account all the above information, the question arises, what is the purpose of this law and why do the authorities and institutions of the Republic of Croatia allow the construction of a HPP at the source of one of the most valuable rivers in the region, when in the future they will be obliged to remove such a dam?
We, the associations and informal groups of citizens of the regional alliance “Defend the rivers of the Balkans”, sincerely hope that Croatia, a member of the European Union, applying the legal regulations of this European community in terms of environmental protection, will respect the demands of the local population and the entire general public and make a decision to permanently suspend the construction of this and all other hydropower facilities in the protected Una basin.
Right to Water, Organization for Political Ecology Polekol, Foundation Atelier for Social Changes – ACT, Studenac Nova Varoš, Varuhinje rek – Cuvarke r(ij)ek, Let’s Defend the Rivers of Stara Planina, Civic Reading Center Libergraf Užice, SEOS – Alliance of Environmental Organizations of Serbia – We Know We Don’t Give, Citizens’ Association NE DAMO JADAR, Eco Brigade Jagodina, Eco-Humanitarian Association Gotuša, nEKO za LEVAC, Sports Care Club Ribolovaca Travnik, Green team – Novi Grad, Montenegrin Ecologists Society, Association “Za Doljanka” Jablanica, March from the Drina, STOP construction of MHP on the Kasindolska river, BATTLE FOR OWNERSHIP!, Eco East, Eco Action PSD “Treskavica” Trnovo, Neretvica – LET ME FLOW, Save the blue heart of Europe – Riverwatch
