Within the project “Voice for rivers!” no. TZ ZM02/12, Aarhus Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with its project partners: UD Eko Centar Višegrad and UD Eko Habitat Goražde organizes street campaigns – collecting signatures for suspension of the issuance of new concessions for the construction of new small hydropower plants on the rivers of Goražde, Foča and Višegrad.
Aware of the long-standing practice and future plans of the competent public authorities, especially local government, to plan and award concessions for the construction of small hydropower plants in a non-transparent way and taking into account the current practice of destruction of our rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, construction of SHPPs and the future danger of further destruction with the construction of new ones, civil society organizations, other legal entities and individuals are launching a street campaign – collecting signatures as part of an advocacy campaign within the “Voice for Rivers!” project.
In the area of the Upper Drina region, especially in Foča, Višegrad and Goražde, several SHPPs have been built so far on the rivers Osanica, Čemernica, Prača, Kosovska, Govza, Krupica, Oteša, where a number of shortcomings in the construction and operation were present. On the other hand, apart from the investors (owners), the social community does not benefit from them, or is expressed minorly in relation to the damages they bring in the Municipality of Foča. Ecosystems of the Bistrica River and the Bjelava River are in danger, especially water supply of the local population.
Street actions will be organized in Goražde (October 13, 14 and 15, 2021), Višegrad (October 18, 19, and 20, 2021) and Foča (October 19, 20, 2021) and October 21, 2021 in the period from 11 am to 7 pm.
We invite all citizens to join us and raise their VOICE FOR RIVERS!
Project “Voice for rivers!” is implemented within the broader project “Think about Nature!” with the financial support of Sweden.
