The Administrative Court of First Instance in Tirana has legitimized the construction of HPPs in Valbona. After a legal battle of several months, on the morning of this Friday, the court decided in favor of the construction of HPPs, overturning the request of 27 residents of the Valbona Valley and the "TOKA" Association, who requested the suspension of the works.
The case was judged by judge Elvana Çiçolli, who at the time of the decision did not allow the presence of cameras in the courtroom.
After the end of the session, the residents said that such a decision would not stop them at all in their efforts to stop the construction of HPPs. Catherine Bohne Selimaj from the "TOKA" association stated to the Citizens Channel that such a decision from the court was expected from them, since if it were in their favor it would open a dangerous precedent with many other HPPs that are being built in all of Albania.
In the month of April, inside the National Park of Valbona, the works have started for the construction of one of the two hydropower plants, which plans to tunnel 3 kilometers of the Valbona River, in one of the most beautiful segments untouched by human hands. .
Valbona is a source of income for the residents of the area, thanks to the tourism that this area has, becoming one of the three main tourism destinations in Albania. National Geographic in 2017 announced it as one of the "9 Best Places in the World to Enjoy the Great Outdoors" (the 9 best places in the world for outdoor tourism).
Author: Sami Curri
