Minister Lekaj tells why mud slides are happening in the streets

Infrastructure Minister Pal Lekaj has talked about landslides across several roads, unfinished roads so far and plans they have in the future.

As for N 2, Kacanic- Hani Elez National Road, Lekaj at Express Interview on KTV, said it was closed because of the risk of slipping the soil, which happens until the full sancing of the situation.

We've made this decision to ensure the citizens, because the landslide is expected at any moment, we better intervene rather than heal. We have not kindly made this decision, it is not known how long it will be closed, but as long as I have information, there is expected to be massive landslides of soil, over a million cubic feet. This project will have a positive impact”, Lekaj said.

Lekaj accused the previous government of not working well in road design, and as a result, there were landslides in different roads.

These projects are currently not properly designed with the criteria that they require, or have focused on the geology of the project to have life-long projects. But we've taken care of all new projects and even for their son-in-law”, he said at KTV, adding that from now on, we will have standard projects as the road or situation requires.

Lekaj said he agrees to have favourable operators who also have good practices in road construction, not the one who is freest. Because, according to him, “should intervene several times a year, the Kosovo budget is being punished, and entirely because of their” standard.

So far, Lekaj says they haven't had enough good practices, but the company “Bechtel Enka” says it worked well.

We who are in charge have responsibility before the law and citizens. We haven't had good practices so far, but Bechtel Enka, worked well and built good roads, but why have we slipped, they should even be questioned by experts”, he added further.

Lekay at Express Interview in KTV also spoke of the “highway; Arba Xhaferi” and the bridge being built on the highway.

He has expressed satisfaction with works on this bridge, which will be even the most special part of this highway, as this bridge will be the longest in the region and parts will be up to 80m above land level.

“On this highway has been accomplished all feasibility, even measuring land as stable as it is. We cannot provide a hundred percent because it is also a natural effect. Because mostly after rain and heavy rainfall are occurring. But we will precede, we will be careful to intervene even in rapid need”, Lekaj added.

For the mud slides in the veternik site, Lekaj said it's been good, but still working on that road.

I'm sorry I haven't been accurate in time to implement the project. I didn't think that project would be the way we found it. Fortunately we haven't had consequences on people, but we've made a decision to establish the commission to find out if it's the manager, the operator, the company or who's to blame. This project has been flawed, but now the department that manages the roads along with the manager of this project will come to the conclusion of who had the guilt of”, he said.

The works, he said, would begin in June.

For highways that have started now and many years but have not yet ended, Lekaj also accused the past Government. According to him, the highway in Mitrovica has been a few years broken and has not worked on it for years.

We have given particular importance to the “Monday will start working on this highway, so has the operator. Within two years the job will be done. Based on the contract, it will actually be correctly known when the entire” project ends, he said.

Whether to be paid to the company Bechtel Enka 65 million he has demanded, due to mistakes from past government, Lekaj said no. But he added that there would be a discount.

“Bechtel Enka has demanded 65m euros, but that amount will be paid. There'll be a discount. The government will decide the discounts to take place”, he said. For that amount, he said government is expected to come up with a decision very soon