Supreme Court Returns Resuscute Measure for Plants in Decan

The Supreme Court has marred the Act of Appeals Court, which said without any basis, among other things, that stopping the work of the hydropower plants was against public interest.

The Supreme Court found that the plaintiffs, Mr. Selmanaj and other residents of Decani have presented convincing evidence that they would be caused harm, that postponing the execution of permits for Hydrocentrals in Decani was not against public interest, and that the construction company would not be caused any major losses. The group for Juridical and Political Studies (GLPS) and Oyq Pishtors are interested parties in the process, and on the same issue have also submitted indictments through the Centre for Strategic Case”, the report said.

Hydro power plants in Decan will no longer be able to operate legally until the court issues a final decision on the legality of the permits.

Legal violations in this case have been large and numerous! And which in August of this year has been confirmed by the publication of the Hydrocentral Group's Handling Report on Hydrocentrics, consisting mainly of ministry officials, who have testified that all power plant permits in Kosovo in the last decade are illegal”, the Centre for Strategic Judicial Cases is said to be reporting.

CRGJS has stressed why the work of these plants is harmful.

“Initially, it should be stressed that permits and licenses for hydropower plants in Decan have been granted without the participation of citizens in decision making, in non-transparent and suspicious procedures! Then, hydrocentrals in Decani: (i) have seriously degraded the environment, flora, wildlife, decomposing ecosystem; (i) the beautiful landscape; (i) have been disfigured and prevented river flow, denied citizens the water of drinking and irrigation, which have been dependent on this water, especially local farmers; (iv) constructions are done against the law within the Special Protection Zone of Decane Monastery (v) the right to water exploitation is granted without a concession, or public partnership, and Kosovo's budget where other permits are done without ecological permission; and the year's implementation of the river is not met; nor is the law of the 2010, and the pilot's use of the code has been carried out of environmental treatment (intraction).

According to CRGJS, all of this, and many other violations are the basis for cancellation of permits! Therefore, the Supreme Court's act, which suspends the work of hydropower plants in Decan until a final decision is a victory for all citizens of Kosovo!

GLPS and Pisces as interested parties in this case call on citizens to oversee the implementation of this decision -- namely, to announce the Centre for Strategic Judicial Cases in the event the Hydrocents in Decan continue operating in spite of the Supreme Court's decision, which we will initiate corresponding legal procedures. Together we must reject cases where the public interest of all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo is damaged for the financial benefit of private persons!