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SARAJEVO, June 26 (FENA) - In order to implement the recent conclusion of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that the construction of small hydropower plants in the entire Federation of BiH should be completely stopped, it was agreed today that Party of Democratic Action (SDA) caucus initiate relevant activities in the cantonal assemblies.
This was concluded at a meeting in Sarajevo that Chairman of the SDA parliamentary group in the House of Representatives, Osman Ćatić, held with the chairmen of the party's caucuses from the cantonal assemblies, since there are regulations dealing with the construction of small hydropower plants at cantonal levels. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the FBiH Administration for Inspection Affairs.
Director of the FBiH Inspection Directorate, Anis Ajdinović, cited the laws on environmental protection and water, as well as the relevant bylaws that precisely regulate the operation of small hydropower plants, depending on whether their power is one or more megawatts.
As one of the ways to implement the conclusion of the House of Representatives, he mentioned possible amendments to certain legal solutions or the adoption of new ones.
“We know that the law on environmental protection is being passed, as well as that the law on water is in the process,” said Ajdinović.
In the context of possible ways, as an even faster way, he mentioned the amendments to the existing bylaws that rely on regulations on environmental protection and water, and are in the FBiH jurisdiction. He also stressed the need for changes in cantonal regulations.
“We know that most of small hydropower plants are within the competence of the cantons, i.e. municipalities, because they give certain prior approvals (based on water acts, environmental and construction permits, concessions). The legal framework concerning concessions, which is at the cantonal level, should be amended and harmonized with the implementation of the conclusion of the House of Representatives,” said Director of the FBiH Inspection Directorate and added that the adoption of the FBiH spatial plan would also contribute to regulating this issue.
The conclusion on the necessary complete suspension of the construction of small hydropower plants on the entire territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted on June 23 at the session of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, at the initiative of the Party of Democratic Action, as Osman Ćatić reminded today.
Sixty-one MPs voted in favor of this conclusion, and eight abstained. No one voted against.
So far, more than a hundred small hydropower plants have been built in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and more than 300 are in various stages of planning, preparation or construction. If the current pace continues, it means that there will be no rivers or streams without at least one small hydropower plant.
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