Local community victory
The Municipal Council of the Municipality of Jajce met after a seven-month break. Voting on the construction of new mini hydropower plants on the Pliva River was held during the meeting. The declaration “Municipality without dams” of the Coalition for the Protection of Rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted, as well as the conclusion against the construction of SHPPs in the municipality of Jajce.
Earlier this year, activists in Jajce collected 6,000 signatures against the construction of two mini hydropower plants, planned to be constructed 300 meters from the Jajce waterfall in the city center.
The petition was also signed by several councilors who reaffirmed their decision today.
Samir Beharić, a representative of non-governmental organizations from Jajce, said this morning in Novi Dan that Mayor Edin Hozan was “declaratively against” the construction of SHPPs, but that he was one of the few who did not sign the petition.
“His connections with investors exist. We do not more about those connections yet. This is a well-organized lobby that brings investors throughout Central Bosnia Canton and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which they exclusively as individuals profit from the construction of SHPPs. Currently, 115 SHPPs are operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 37 in the area of Central Bosnia Canton. Our Canton is the most affected Canton by the construction of SHPPs. Four SHPPs are operating in the Jajce area, and these four SHPPs contribute to the budget in 0.46 percent. The budget of the municipality of Jajce receives more money for birth certificates fees than it would receive from SHPPs. One or two people are employed. This should be repeated all the time because investors and politicians are not telling the truth because they are all part of this story“, said Beharić.
