Protest in Maliq, residents: ‘They are taking our water for the other village’

Residents of the village of Burimas, in Maliq, took to the streets again in protest this Monday, clashing with police and representatives of the water utility as they refuse to allow water to be taken from their village to supply another one.

The protest was sparked by a project to supply drinking water to the neighboring village of Zvezdë. Burimas residents oppose taking water from their village’s spring, saying the intervention could affect their own water supply.

During the clash with police, one villager felt unwell and fainted. Fellow residents rushed to his aid and lifted him from the ground.

For the residents, the solution is for the Zvezdë investment to go ahead without touching the spring that supplies Burimas.

“Today we are protesting for water. This is the third time we have had a problem over water. They want to take the Golloberda water to Zvezdë. To deceive us, to fool us. That’s it. We will not accept this. No, we will not allow it. These are the residents of Golloberda. And Zvezda will rise up too; we will not accept this. Let them drill the well in Zvezdë,” one resident said.