The funds allocated in February for citizens who suffered extensive material damage from the January floods have still not been paid. About twenty citizens, mostly ethnic Albanians, went to the municipal premises yesterday to find out the reason behind the delay. While the mayor did not meet with them, the deputy mayor and representatives of the local assembly spoke with the gathered residents. In a statement for KoSSev, the President of the Assembly announced the adoption of a new, „binding“ decision on the allocation of funds, adding that a criminal complaint will be filed against the executive power if this decision is not implemented.
The January floods, which affected several parts of Kosovo, caused considerable material damage in North Mitrovica.
The most extensive damage was suffered by the property of locals who live near the river in the Bosniak Mahala settlement.
In late February, funds in the amount of 300,000 euros were allocated to help these citizens repair the damage caused by the floods.
However, these funds have not yet been paid out.
Representatives of the North Mitrovica municipal assembly have repeatedly stated that the citizens who returned to their homes after this disaster are faced with poor living conditions, but are still unable to go back due to the state of their homes.
Determined to solve their housing issue, repair the damage, and in order to get an answer as to why the funds have not yet been paid, about twenty Bosniak Mahala residents, mostly ethnic Albanians, gathered in front of the municipal premises.
They were met by the President of the Municipal Assembly, Nedzed Ugljanin, Councilor Betim Osmani and Deputy Mayor, Katarina Adzancic.
After a conversation, which was conducted mainly in Albanian, Ugljanin told KoSSev that the citizens are dissatisfied because the decision of the Municipal Assembly on the funds allocation has not yet been implemented.
„As the chairman, I invited several delegates and the deputy mayor to attend a meeting with citizens. They are in a very difficult position, and this issue can even be radicalized because someone does not want to respect the decision of the assembly,“ said Ugljanin.
He stresses that the citizens are frustrated, warning that he believes a physical conflict may even break out.
„The people can no longer tolerate this kind of situation where promises are constantly made but not fulfilled, and then there is an explosion,“ he said.
The citizens’ frustration and indignation were also visible at the meeting itself.
At the same time, they requested an audience with the mayor of North Mitrovica, Erdan Atic, which did not happen.
Ugljanin told KoSSev that the fact that the mayor did not appear „is very bad for his image“.
He underlines that some families have not yet returned to their homes, due to material damage.
„They have nowhere to return, their houses were damaged and they are not fit for a normal life,“ he said.
Even if everything seems to work – it doesn’t
Ugljanin claims that the Assembly is doing its job and communicating with citizens.
According to him, the representatives of the executive authority in this municipality are also talking to the citizens.
„Citizens come here, where they are greeted by the heads of the cabinet and some staff who give them the answer that there are no funds – there are funds, there must be.
Considering that we as the Assembly functioned for seven months without executive power, without funds, now those funds are slowly coming in,“ he said.
Ugljanin says that it is unclear to the Assembly who is holding back the process of paying compensation to citizens.
„We really don’t know, because the (municipal) finance director doesn’t exist, that’s common knowledge. Here, even if it seems that everything is working – it is not. We see it on the field,“ he said.
In his words, an „external factor influences“ the executive power of the municipality by telling them „what and how to do things“.
On the other hand, he says that the MA has no right to influence the appointment of directors and heads of cabinet.
According to his findings, the appointment of a finance director is expected soon.
„We will sit down first with the director and discuss what I said – to find a concrete solution for subsidies, to allocate those funds,“ he said.
We will make a new decision, if it is not implemented, criminal charges will follow
Ugljanin, however, announces that the Municipal Assembly will make a new – binding decision, to compensate citizens for damages.
„For the funds, from the subsidies, goods and services fund, to be paid to the citizens as a one-time aid by the municipality“, he said.
„We found a framework where we can allocate these funds and we will order that the payment be made to the citizens within 15 days,“ he said.
If the funds are not paid, and the decision is not respected, Ugljanin announces the filing of criminal charges.
„In that case, we will go through the legal path. We will file criminal charges because we have to defend the interests of the citizens, especially in this difficult situation, given that now the diaspora has come to their homes in inadequate conditions,“ said Ugljanin.
He specified that criminal charges will be filed against the executive power.
„In case this obligation is not fulfilled, considering that there is still no finance director, we file a complaint against the executive authority, which is obliged to implement the decisions of the assembly,“ he said.
The session at which this decision is expected to be made will be held next Tuesday.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
