Prime Minister Edi Rama, through a communication on social networks, answered questions about the water supply project that aims to take water from the village. Tragedy in Vlora.
Since February, the residents of this village have been violently opposing the extraction of water from the Izvor River. On Tuesday, they clashed with the National Inspectorate of Territorial Protection (IKMT) and the Rapid Intervention Forces (FNSH).
According to them, the water supply construction project by the Gjoka Construction company, which will deliver water to the coast of Himara, favors luxury tourist complexes and leaves the village's agricultural lands without water for irrigation.
Residents claim they were not consulted about this project, but Prime Minister Rama denied this on Thursday, saying that "Confusion has been created on the issue" and "the project is based on a proper hydrological study."
"I have tried to explain and re-explain to those I have spoken to that this project is based on studies," Rama emphasized in his communication on social networks.
Residents' claims and lack of transparency
Kreola Pulo, a resident of Tragjas, told Citizens that the study conducted by the company is incomplete. She argued this with the fact that, according to her, it was carried out in the wettest months of the year and did not take into account the agricultural needs of the area.
"The company conducted a study in the driest months of the year and did not take into account agricultural areas that need irrigation, the terrain that the village itself needs water," said Pulo.
Citizens.al asked the Gjoka Construction company for a comment on the residents' claims, but did not receive a response.
Pulo explained that, according to the project, water will be taken from the three main outlets of the Izvor spring, leaving about 80-90% of residents dependent on wells, which are at risk of running out.
For the first time, the project for diverting Izvor water towards Dhërmi and the Himara coast was presented by Minister Belinda Balluku, who described it as "investment that serves tourism in the south of the country."
But for the residents of Tragjas, who are located between Dukat and Orikum, this project is a threat to their area.
In response to these concerns, Prime Minister Rama stated that the project also aims to help Tragjasi, by giving residents the opportunity to invest in tourism.
“We see [Tragjasi] as an area with great development potential for tourism and agrotourism. There are a large number of emigrants who can return and invest,” Rama said.
But the residents of Tragjas are determined to stop the project and have begun preparations for a legal lawsuit.
"We are fighting with legal means to stop this project, which does not take into account demographic aspects, the development of the area and the village's need for water," said Pulo, who considered the project "It makes no sense since the village is currently without water."
The tragedy was part of the first government mandate program "100 Villages," which aimed to invest in infrastructure and tourism, but residents say they did not benefit from any concrete investment.
Currently, the village faces a lack of investment and the risk of losing drinking and irrigation water, a situation similar to that of the residents of Shushica, who are also threatened by a water supply project for Himara.
Also Read:
- Residents of Tragjas in defense of the Izvor River clash with police
- 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.
