May 18, 2018 - Montenegrin Non-Governmental Organization “Green” hosted a conference under the name “River Basins as the most important ecological and economic benefit of Montenegro” on the 18th of May in Podgorica. Among the speakers was State Secretary of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Sasa Radulovic, who had an introductory speech. State Secretary Radulovic welcomed all the efforts that are intensively implemented in Montenegro in order to ensure sustainable water resources management. He pointed out that Montenegro is in the 4% of the world’s top by average river flows and reminded that water is not only Montenegro's biggest natural resource but also a strategic one and therefore water in Montenegro must be managed and treated accordingly, with precautions.
Mister Radulovic added that over 400 kilometers of water supply and sewage networks were built and rehabilitated over the past 10 years, pointing out at projects such as constructing the Regional water system, water supply safety for the Montenegrin coast, as well as the construction and management of wastewater in Mojkovac, Zabljak, Budva, Niksic, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, and most recently, Savnik. Also, State Secretary Radulovic added that the facilities for treatment of wastewater in Pljevlja and Berane are under construction, while construction of such projects for Podgorica and Danilovgrad are planned and are being prepared. He also mentioned that funds necessary for providing wastewater management in Cetinje were gathered back in 2017 and that this town is going to receive reconstruction of this kind soon.
“The activities that are being carried out are an important step forward for Montenegro, and the results achieved in a short period of ten years are visible and measurable,” Radulovic said, providing insight to the number of funds invested so far in the realization of these projects which is 350 million EUR.
In his introductory speech, reviewed improvements as he pointed out that the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism plans to start the project with a goal to make a reform in the water sector, focusing mainly on agglomeration as one of the recommended rational approaches for higher and more quality water supply throughout the country.
In the end, he concluded that the essence of environmental protection is the key in care of human health and life, while society should pay attention to the improvement of ecosystems and the preservation of the natural balance and ecological stability. He added: “We also want to stimulate rational exploitation of natural resources, driven by the idea that we did not inherit this beautiful country from our ancestor, but borrowed it from our descendants. This process can be completed only by getting the public and the private sector to cooperate, through NGOs and the media, making a big picture and gathering around whole community.”
