Illegal construction in national parks

Illegal construction in national parks

In 2006, Uvac was placed under the protection of the state in order to save the white-headed eagle, a rare species of bird, from extinction, as well as to preserve other species of flora and fauna.

Even though construction work - even of a temporary nature - is strictly prohibited in the national park, Uvac is now a building site. The Ministry of Infrastructure is responsible for demolition, but Ilić is blocking any such moves.

Unknown person or persons have for example begun construction in the immediate vicinity of the habitat of the white-headed eagle, a protected species of animal.

Dušan Pajkić, deputy minister for the environment, says that a list of all illegal buildings has been compiled and submitted to the Ministry, which is authorized to control and prevent the practice.

At the end of last year, the government passed a resolution for an increase in security monitoring, which the park wardens are responsible for.

The department director, Slobodan Ljubojević, claims that the wardens were astonished to find 185 structures, 50 of which had been erected since the beginning of last year.

"Building inspectors have reacted. The police have given us a lot of support, they have always provided us with officers in the field, because we have had some big problems. Investors didn’t want to identify themselves, and the wardens have received verbal threats," says Ljubojević.

The president of the Novi Varoš municipality, Branislav Dilparić, feels that some of the buildings should be spared, as they were built thirty years ago. He feels that the countryside should be protected like it is in Switzerland or in Bled in Slovenia.

The chief of building inspectorate, Miljan Čanović, told B92 the decision had been taken to demolish 192 illegal buildings around Uvac, and Zlatar and Radojin lakes. He expects the buildings to be removed in the next two to three months.

Ilić: No demolition!

"No such decision has taken place, nor will any buildings be demolished," the infrastructure minister declared yesterday for Blic, just before the ruling to tear down 192 illegally built cottages on Zlatar lake, part of the special nature reserve at the Uvac canyon, near Novi Varoš, was due to be submitted.

The Building Inspection Department, which is under the minister’s jurisdiction, was meant to submit the owners with rulings, but the inspectors failed to appear. However, Ilić, who is opening a new local road in the area, said that there would be "no demolition."

According to unnamed sources close to the daily, the chief of building inspection yesterday set off for Uvac in order to issue the demolition orders.

However, Ilić was informed of this in the meantime. Although no one can confirm whether the minister then issued the inspector with new instructions, the fact remains that he did not appear at the agreed time for his meeting with the park’s administrators.