“The Government of Serbia has decided to extend the deadline by 12 months for the creation of the Spatial Plan for the Special Purpose Area of Avala and Kosmaj, which allows for the exploration and exploitation of ores in the area between Avala and Kosmaj,” stated the association “Our Local Community.”
They note that from the graphical part of this spatial plan, which was available for early public review in January, it is evident that ore exploitation is planned in the area of the old cinnabar mine Šuplja Stena on Avala and ore exploration in the municipalities of Voždovac, Sopot, and Barajevo in Belgrade.
They warn that measures protecting cultural heritage in the area covered by the spatial plan could be abolished, which means that the Jajinci Memorial Park, the Monument to the Unknown Hero on Avala, the Birth House of Vojvoda Stepa Stepanović, the Kastaljan Monastery in Sopot, the Tresije Monastery, the Pavlovac Monastery, and the Koraćica Spa in Mladenovac could be endangered.
“The decision states that if the competent institute for the protection of cultural monuments does not prepare the Study for the Protection of Immovable Cultural Properties before the Planning Commission approves the plan for public review, it will be considered that its preparation is not necessary. The Study for the Protection of Immovable Cultural Properties should prescribe protection measures for cultural properties that are mandatory and integral parts of all urban plans, including this spatial plan, and cannot be considered unnecessary,” the association concludes.
In the area covered by the spatial plan for Avala and Kosmaj, there are 37 cultural monuments and 111 archaeological sites that will remain without adequate protection measures if this study is not prepared.
“It is symptomatic that the beginning of the early public review for this harmful spatial plan in January this year coincided with announcements to continue the Jadar Project and lithium mining. Just as the Government decided that the preparation of the study for the protection of immovable cultural properties would be considered unnecessary if not submitted in a timely manner, it could also decide that an environmental impact assessment study is unnecessary, even though the law prescribes otherwise,” they conclude.
Source : Danas
