Residents of Tragjas, in Vlora, who have been facing a battle to protect the Izvor River for a month, clashed on Tuesday with the National Inspectorate of Territorial Protection (IKMT) and the Rapid Intervention Forces (FNSH).
IKMT together with FNSH landed in Tragjas on Tuesday morning to demolish several houses and begin work on the construction of the water supply, which is expected to be developed at the former pumping station, which once served to supply water to the Pasha Limani base.
The residents of the village of Tragjas have long clashed with institutions about this project, as, firstly, they have not been informed and, secondly, they oppose taking water from the Izvor River.
Residents say they have not been properly informed about the developments and have requested a consultation with the municipality.
During February, some of them went to a meeting of the Vlora Municipal Council to request information about the project, but they did not receive a response.
As residents waited for a meeting with the institutions, they were confronted by police forces on Tuesday.
The project aims to obtain water to supply the resorts on the Palasa coast. But residents of the Tragjas and Orikum areas risk being left without water, similar to the case of the Shushica river.
The residents of Tragjas have also started a petition where they demand that the diversion of the river be stopped.
"They are planning to divert the Izvor River from its natural outlet into the Adriatic to the Ionian, destroying a unique ecosystem and endangering the residents' water supply.",” the petition reads at the top.
The Izvor River creates a unique microclimate in Orikum and the Gulf of Dukat, attracts tourists and supports a rich fauna.
"Changing its flow will destroy this biodiversity."", the petition reads.
Also of great concern to the residents is the lack of water for the community. They and the tourist area of Rradhima rely on this river for drinking water.
"Its diversion will leave thousands of residents and businesses without sufficient water.", it is said further.
The third point on which they oppose the project is transparency.
"A secret project for the oligarchs. This plan has not undergone public consultation and is being done for private interests, sacrificing the environment and the needs of the community", the petition states.
Finally, according to residents, this project endangers tourism, as the flows of Izvor create the natural freshness that makes the tourist area of Orikum and the beaches of Dukat attractive.
""Its diversion will harm tourism, directly affecting the economy of the residents.", the petition concludes.
Environmental activist Lavdosh Ferruni, who has supported residents in their battle to protect the river, says that the Prime Minister is wrong when he says that the water source belongs to the state.
"Water was there before the state and states were created. The inhabitants there have been one with the water for centuries. Taking away the water to take it to another state means taking the inhabitants away from their homes," Ferruni told Citizens.
Read also:
- Himara Water Supply, institutions avoid meeting with Shushica residents
- The battle to save Shushica from the Himara Aqueduct
He completed master's studies in Investigative Journalism at the Department of Journalism at the University of Tirana. She has been working as a journalist for five years, where she previously covered issues of politics and parliamentary activity, in print and online media. She is currently a journalist at Citizens.al, where she covers various social issues related to the transparency of institutions. At Citizens.al, she leads the podcast "The Unheard" and is engaged as a manager of projects related to the support of investigative journalism.
