As the President of the Board of Directors of the Regional Water Supply Company, my attempt to visit the site of the planned temporary dam in the Morača River bed revealed a disturbing situation: the entire access road was forcefully obstructed with an embankment made of waste materials. On the opposite side, access was restricted with chains and padlocks, devoid of any sign of ownership, legal notice, or institutional endorsement.

This obstruction is not a random occurrence but a deliberate and organized barrier designed to prevent awareness of events transpiring in the sanitary protection zones surrounding the “Bolje sestre” spring, stated Zoran Lakušić, President of the Board of Directors of the Montenegrin Coast Regional Water Supply Company.

In a press release, Lakušić expressed concern that neither he nor, more alarmingly, the inspection services could approach the area.

“These hindrances are not coincidences; they represent a method of concealing illicit activities, established with clear intent. Near this illegal barrier, unauthorized gravel extraction has been conducted and likely continues in the second sanitary protection zone of the ‘Bolje sestre’ spring, posing a direct threat to the water supply of the Montenegrin coast and committing environmental destruction in an area already affected by ecocide,” Lakušić emphasized.

He also highlighted that evidence from the field indicates several smaller companies, despite warnings and reports, are illegally extracting gravel at various locations along the banks of the Morača River on state-owned land.

“The pits at these sites are not mere geological formations but indicators of the plundering of state property. This issue extends beyond environmental damage; it represents systematic, organized eco-crime that is ravaging the banks of the Morača riverbed, threatening groundwater, and destroying the natural environment.”

Serious estimates suggest that approximately 30 loads of gravel and sand are illicitly extracted from the Morača riverbed daily, equating to around 20,000 euros per day, 600,000 euros per month, and an astounding 6,000,000 euros annually. This is a theft scheme from which the state derives no financial benefit,” the statement read. Lakušić noted that this is occurring while the Regional Water Supply Company endeavors to perform vital public service activities.

“Rather than receiving support from local citizens in safeguarding the public interest, we face barricades, illegal barriers, and obstructions. No barrier, padlock, or chain should supersede the law. Land, rivers, and natural resources owned by the state serve the public good. Their protection is not optional; it is a constitutional and moral duty for every individual and institution,” he added.

The President of the Board of Directors of the Regional Water Supply Company expressed his endorsement for the “Protect and Let It Protect You” campaign initiated by the European Union, the Government of Montenegro, and the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Northern Development. He particularly advocated for the creation of a specialized police unit to combat environmental crime.

“This serves as a powerful indication that the fight for nature conservation is receiving the institutional backing it deserves. This campaign is a positive step forward and merits the support of all who wish to preserve natural resources for future generations. I am pleased to report that the situation on the ground has visibly improved, as illegal extraction in the Morača riverbed has been largely curtailed, allowing the river to begin its recovery. Unfortunately, illegal exploitation has predominantly shifted to the riverbanks, underscoring the need for decisive and coordinated action from the responsible authorities.

Compared to two years ago, progress is palpable, and this fosters hope that the safeguarding of our rivers, land, and public assets is achievable with political resolve, institutional accountability, and public awareness.

“Together, we can ensure that the Morača River and its banks remain clean, healthy, and a life-sustaining resource for us and generations to come. Damaging the bed and banks of the Morača River constitutes the destruction of one of our country’s most vital natural assets. This is a crime against the state, the citizens, and future generations,” the statement concluded.

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