Visit-Montenegro.com : Micunovic: We Shall Tear Down Illegal Objects, from Sea to Durmitor

Podgorica – “After the people, space remains the most valuable resource of Montenegro. We shall, therefore, do everything to save it from illegal building and preserve it for the future generations”, Predrag Micunovic, coordinator of the recently founded Inspection for Spatial Protection has told “Vijesti.”
According to “Vijesti’s” information, Micunovic will soon be appointed as the Head of this Inspection. He emphasizes that “one must bear in mind that ancestors have fought for each and every meter of Montenegrin land and that each footstep has equal historic and economic value.”
“At this point, the most important asset we have is in serious jeopardy – the most attractive areas on the coast and the national parks.
We shall try and introduce preemptive and timely measures, meaning that we would act as soon as one lays foundations, with our primary goal being to protect the space. We shall do so on every step of Montenegrin soil, starting from the coast all the way to Durmitor, in national parks, but also at non-inhabited mountains.
Procedure will be utterly simple. Those who build without licenses will have to tear those objects down by themselves, or it will be done by a special service, acting on our orders.
There will be no more banning of the construction works, no time left for regulating the documentation, no time for the complaints about the decision of the inspection. Everything, which has no license, will have to be torn down”, Micunovic states.
Entire territory of Montenegro will be under Inspection’s jurisdiction, regardless of whether planning documentation exists or not. Micunovic says that total of 11 inspectors will control this entire area. He claims that this plan was not overly ambitious.
“I do not feel this is unrealistic. We shall see how things will develop once we start working. So, if it turns out it is necessary, we shall increase the number of inspectors. At this point, the fact that winter would soon bring works at North to a standstill is working in our favor.

By springtime, we shall be able to dedicate ourselves to the South, especially the coastline, where the problem of spatial destruction exists in all of the Municipalities.

So, when the spring arrives, we shall also cover the North and than see if we are lacking inspectors. Entire territory is under our jurisdiction, all of the object, each well, each sewage pit, each warehouse and building. The only way to avoid tearing down is to have a license”, Micunovic announces.

He agrees with the suggestion that large areas have already been irreversibly destroyed.

“It would have been good if this type of protection had been introduced earlier. However, it is good that it will happen now and it is good that we shall work decisively to rescue our most valuable asset.

Although we do understand that there are powerful individuals in the society, it is part of our job to treat everyone as equals and only decisive point would be if someone does or does not have a building license.

We shall do our job. And, we are powerful, in the sense that we shall go all the way in order to implement the Law. Our work will be public, people will be able to dial free number 080 081 777 and report any sort of illegal construction works. So, we shall see together if the privileged ones really exist”, Micunovic said.

He believes that the people will take Laws and determination of the Inspection seriously and that they will not reach the decision to start an adventure of building without license easily.

“Apart from our mandate - to tear down everything which has no license - we shall also press criminal charges against the builders, as the building without the license is an act of crime.

I believe that people will also consider material damage and the fact that such actions are penalized with imprisonment. Fines range between six months and five years. I believe that people will be afraid and that they will not risk going to jail over a storage-object.

Italians and Englishmen would also build without licenses if they would not fear that they would be penalized. Montenegrins will act in the same manner and I do not expect that they will show some exceptional ‘courage’ in such cases”, Micunovic finds.

He emphasizes that institutions, which have dealt with the cases of illegitimate building which occurred up until now will continue processing those cases.

Mugosa Preserves His Territory Well

With the special decree of the government, territory of Montenegrin capital, Podgorica is excepted from the jurisdiction of the Inspection for Spatial Protection.

“Podgorica has a very well organized service. And, up until now, according to the estimate of the Ministry for Economic Development, it has proven it was a good guardian of its’ space. In order to make job of the Inspection for Spatial Protection a bit easier, space which is being so well protected will be excepted from our jurisdiction. Podgorica’s local authorities will deal with that business”, Micunovic stated.

(22 October 2008)

By: M. BABOVIĆ