Yesterday, environmental activist Brizida Gjikondi denounced the betonization of the riverbed of the Vjosa river by the construction company Hari Lena. On photos published on her Facebook profile the construction of a concrete bridge is clearly visible.
In relation to this denunciation also Këlcyra mayor Klement Ndoni has spoken out, stating that the works started in September and that it is still unclear who is doing the construction work and for what purpose:
As far as I know the construction work has started at the beginning of September, at the moment only the materials have been brought. When we went there together with the police we didn’t find anyone. […]
No one has come to us. The police has come to us to get information on the construction works. Later Hari Lena deposited a request for a permit and we didn’t give it to him.
In 2015 and 2016 the company Hari Lena requested an Environmental Evaluation for a plan to exploit the “underground waters in Trebeshina.” However, the Environmental Agency did not approve the request owing to a lack of documentation. This means that any construction work by the company at that location is illegal.
The Vjosa river is the last wild river of Europe and has been under constant threat of construction plans of the government. The government still plans to construct a hydropower plant in the river, in spite of a resolution passed by the European Parliament against such plans, and several protests and lawsuits of environmental activists and international scientists.
