New blockades in Studeničan: Pagarushë and Vrtekicë residents block road for heavy trucks

Residents of the villages of Pagarushë and Vrtekicë in the municipality of Studeničan took to the ground again today and completely blocked the local road infrastructure, fulfilling their promise that they will not allow further destruction of roads by the private concessionaire that exploits limestone, as 4NEWS reports.

The reason for the urgent blockade is the continued ignoring of their demands by institutions: heavy trucks loaded with ore pass daily through the center of the settlements, leaving behind major asphalt damage, unbearable noise and dense clouds of dust; the safety of pedestrians is seriously endangered, especially children playing near the route.

The issue also took on a political dimension in Parliament: MP Rexhep Ismail sharply criticized the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, accusing the authorities of directly protecting the private profit of the concessionaire, while citizens pay with their safety and with the destruction of infrastructure inherited from the Yugoslav era.

«We are not backing down from our demands. This road is our only connection with the city, while institutions remain silent as it disappears under the wheels of overloaded trucks,» residents told the media.

The municipality of Studeničan had previously stated that it has prepared a project for the reconstruction of the road, but there is still no concrete agreement with the concessionaire on when and how the damage will be repaired. Residents warn that the blockades will remain active until an urgent decision is made to ban heavy transport through the villages or until an alternative route outside the residential area is found.