In 2019, 24 families living in the center of Fier were informed that they will be expropriated to make way for the project "Rehabilitation of the Gjanicë River", "Reconceptualization of the city center" and "Construction of the Hand Games Stadium".
"At the first moment of the meeting with the mayor, we were told that 20-story buildings would be built and we would get our share there. We even have it registered", - Valentina Skënderaj, one of the residents affected by the project, told Citizens Channel.
In March 2021, residents received a letter informing them that they had to leave their homes to be expropriated. Due to the court proceedings and their resistance, the demolitions started more than two years later, in October of this year, where the first 12 buildings were demolished.
"Why don't you show me the urban development project?" I want to see what will be built in my house? The project must bear the date and signature of that period that took us out of the house, the project must not bear the date of yesterday, the day before yesterday, when we have been out for years", - follows Skenderaj.
Residents claim that Fier Municipality has proposed compensation worth 60% of the value of their property due to lack of budget.
"What will I do with 15 million, what will I get, what will I get, tell me what I will get!" Is the house bought for that amount? ", - says Fatbardha Laze, another resident.
According to the decision of the Councilof the Ministers the total value of the expropriation, of 124 395 382 (one hundred twenty four million three hundred ninety five thousand three hundred eighty two) ALL, will be borne by:
- 27 088 361 (twenty-seven million eighty-eight thousand three hundred sixty-one) lek, from the Fier Municipality budget;
- 97 307 021 (ninety-seven million three hundred and seven thousand and twenty-one) ALL, from the expenses approved in the item "capital expenses with internal financing" of the program "Urban Planning" in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, for the year 2022 .
Demolition of houses without an urban plan
Citizens Channel addressed the Fier Municipality to find out specifically what is planned to be built in the space where the houses are being demolished, but the institution replied that the request for expropriation and the decisions were made by the Council of Ministers, so the project or its implementation is done by the Government.
Then we directed you to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, which again delegated the request to the Municipality of Fier.
"Regarding the project Rehabilitation of the Gjanicë River", "Reconceptualization of the city center" and "Construction of the Hand Games Stadium", the complaining party should be directed to the Fier Municipality, in the capacity of the subject requesting the expropriation and the competent institution for the prosecution , the implementation and realization of this project", is the answer of the Ministry.
In a simple search for apartment prices in the center of Fier, to see if residents can afford a new apartment, with 60% of the compensation provided by Fier Municipality, it seems to be almost impossible.
Their prices vary around 75 euros for two-room apartments and 120/140 euros for three-room apartments.
Meanwhile, according to the values of expropriation in VKM, the compensation that will be received by the residents already left homeless (ranging from 15 - 29 million ALL) is not enough to cover half of the costs of an apartment in the city of Fier.
"I paid the bonus for eight months, they promised me that you will receive a bonus, you will receive a bonus and to this day I have not received it", - concludes Myenvere Omeri, who claims that Fier Municipality had promised her that she would also pay the cost of the rent.
He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
