Minister Matoshi says power to stop construction of hydropower plants in Shtrpca

According to Minister Matosi, all necessary documentation exists for the construction of hydropower plants in the municipality of Shtrpce.

Meanwhile, he added that public debates were held for the construction of hydropower plants in that area in 2013-2014, where citizens could express dissatisfaction.

Matoshi: Cannot make a decision to cut off work

(Video) “in the municipality of Shtrpce operates “Matkos”, which has currency documents for four hydropower plants. The first is Sharr's hydropower plant, which has started the works, is in the course of completing its works, has environmental consent, has water approval as well. It's also the Brezovica hydropower plant that's about to end up and the same has already applied for environmental permission, this one has been asked for additional information, which he has not yet brought to the ministry. It's the “hydropower plant. Shrpca” that also own documents. Each of these hydro power plants, construction permits is subject to in the municipality of Shtrpce, while in us they have environmental consent, water supply... We are in a phase where I can't arbitraryly make any decisions or interrupt jobs, because investors who are there working on it will, of course, seek compensation”, Matos hi said.

However, according to the village's representative Beatty, Agron Rushiti has not had such debates. He has expressed his concern over reducing water on the Lepenc River, showing several photographs of the river before the plant's construction and after its construction.

Rushiti: Fish are starting to die (Video) “are dying because they can't survive. Which law I don't know, who they deal with. All the drinking water we have, we have Lepentz. In this form we can't then get drinking water... our Earth is dependent on Iber Lepentz, the source of life we have, the grandfather and grandfather we've had, it's from Lepentz. Our land too is hanging, and the river is weeping for that water. Even when it came to this state... it has not been fully filled up by”, Rushiti said.

Matoshi, during reporting to the Commission for Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Development, said he does not have the power to undertake something in this respect, as, according to him, construction companies have the documentation needed for their construction.

According to him, only the Kosovo Assembly has the power to change the current situation.

Matoshi: Only the Kosovo Assembly can cease the work, I don't have the power (Video) “in the situation we are, only the Kosovo Parliament can cease, I don't have the power and the strength as minister to interrupt this because people possess documentation. You can say they're not regular, I can say they're open, public”, Matoshi said.

And the commission's member, Liburn Aliu from the Vetevendosje Movement, said residents on that side have also been threatened to go out and protest to stop the work.

Ali: Residents in Bit are threatened (Video) “In conversation with the villagers, I noticed their reluctance to come, go to the country together. There was only one representative of the Serb community, and some of the Albanian community we went with. They've been worried about looking somewhere publicly that we're going to those places. Because they've felt threatened, if they react to the hydro power issue. There's been pressure on those villagers and that's the worst part of the problem. When these protested, Kosovo police have arrested”, Aliu said.

The Commission's chairman, MP Muharrem Nitaj, has said that an investigative commission would have to be formed for this matter that would see the work of these plants, taken permits, water being exploited so that the concerns raised can be addressed.

Nitay: The Kosovo Assembly should form an investigative commission (Video) “I would be very interested in having the Kosovo Parliament or certain commissions dealing with this substance established, a Investigative Commission to introduce this problematic in essence. You're saying you've inherited a papyrology you can't change, you've inherited a situation with permission, that those people have taken and you have no power, that parliament can do. And the only solution I think is for parliament to establish an investigative commission and introduce this problem. It seems very suspicious to me, there seems to be something smells like”, declared Nitaj.

While residents' representatives have demanded that all hydropower plants in the Shtrpce region be stopped, Matoschi has reiterated that there is no legal competence to stop the work.