FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Residents of Rrjoll continue their protests against the project to build a tourist resort in the Baks-Rrjoll area, in Velipojë. After previous rallies in front of the Parliament and the Special Prosecutor's Office, they gathered again in the area to oppose the start of works.
Tensions were noted between residents and law enforcement during the protest. Protesters blocked vehicle movement by sitting on the road, aiming to stop the works.
"You workers, we workers, with your blood, with our blood," they say, while declaring that they are determined to defend their land.
"We will die here for our land and that of our grandparents," said one of the protesters.
Residents oppose the construction of the “Blue Borgo” resort, a project of the company “Gener 2”, which has received the status of a strategic investor. According to them, the construction permit was obtained on the basis of forged documents and after removing part of the area from the protected area.
A few days ago, dozens of residents protested in front of SPAK and the Parliament, demanding verification of procedures and intervention by justice institutions.
Mara Paplekaj, a resident of Rrjoll, stated that her family owns 175 acres of land and opposes the way the project is being developed.
"We have 175 acres of our own land, we have land both in the mountains and in the plains, but they are robbing us of it with forged documents ," she said.
According to her, the residents have held negotiations with the company, but have not reached an agreement.
"Bashkim Ulaj called us, but we did not agree with his words and we are in court because he promised us ridiculous things that are not for us," added Paplekaj. "But they still came and started the work," she emphasized.
Residents are demanding the intervention of institutions to avoid escalating the situation. The resort envisages the construction of 33 accommodation structures with 3 to 10 floors above ground and one underground floor. The company plans to complete the project within 60 months.
The Baks-Rrjoll area was part of the Velipojë-Bunë Protected Landscape and is located between the Viluni Lagoon and the Rana e Hedhun Natural Monument. Territorial development experts estimate that such interventions bring irreversible consequences for the territory and affect the ecosystem of the area, which includes wetlands of importance for various bird species.
According to territory expert Imeld Sokoli, legal changes approved in September 2024 gave the National Council for Territory and Waters the authority to issue construction permits even in protected areas.
Residents claim that changes to the law on protected areas, adopted in February 2024, paved the way for strategic investments in territories previously considered untouchable.
“Rrjolli has been a Protected Area since 2016 until today and only the taxed part has been removed,” Prek Molla, a resident of Rrjolli, told BIRN.
Residents claim that the company negotiated with an owner they consider fictitious to speed up the procedures.
"Every document that Fatmir Shpellzaj has is forged. The public hearing was held, but not in our village, I don't know where." "I have filed a report with SPAK for this," said Prek Molla.
The case is in court and the residents are requesting a suspension of the works until a final decision is made by the Court of Appeal. The next hearing is expected to take place on February 16.
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