Žurnal in English
CONSTRUCTION ON TREBEVIĆ CONTINUES: It can be done without permits or even by a foreign national and an unregistered company
Construction on Trebević is moving forward quickly. Even buildings without proper permits are being constructed without any obstacles.
The municipality of Istočni Stari Grad has unlawfully granted a permit for the construction of a six-story building in Brus, Trebević. The construction site encompasses plots 133/30 and 133/31, and the permit was issued to a foreign national named Adnan Zattam. According to local regulations, construction permits cannot be issued to foreign nationals. Therefore, we reached out to relevant authorities to verify Zattam’s citizenship status in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data from the secretariat of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina indicate that Zattam is not listed in the database of individuals holding BiH citizenship.
Gašanović informed Žurnal journalists that if the illegality is confirmed, the permit would be revoked. However, a few months later, not only was the permit not revoked, but the construction of the facility is advancing at a pace faster than the area’s average.
MYSTERIOUS INVESTOR
The investor behind NB Apartments is a company that isn't registered in any business registry. Despite this, four separate sources have confirmed to Žurnal that Nermin Bjelak, a former representative in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, is connected to NB Apartments, with the initials NB deriving from his name. However, in a conversation with Žurnal journalists, he denied any involvement in this investment. Nonetheless, our sources indicate that Adnan Zattam authorized Bjelak to act on his behalf in the construction, possibly through a contract that may have been drafted at any notary office. However, this doesn't imply its legality.
Another investor in Brus is Predrag Nešić, who is the brother of the State Security Minister, Nenad Nešić. Predrag Nešić’s company, N Trade, reported a total income of BAM 8.8 million last year. Minister Nenad Nešić is listed as a member of the previous administration, director. The project involves the construction of four blocks with a total of 192 apartments.
CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY
The vision held by the Municipality of Istočni Stari Grad for Trebević entails constructing accommodation and hotel facilities in Brus, installing a gondola connecting Brus to Dobre Vode, extending from Dobre Vode to the mountain's peak, and establishing sidewalks and a promenade leading to the Roof Gardens.
Contrarily, the cantonal authorities are focused on implementing a sewage system, which they assert isn't a concession to investors. However, they seem to overlook the potential impact of the Trebević construction on the Canton of Sarajevo.
The construction of Trebević Hills is a cause for concern due to the absence of a public announcement regarding the existence of an environmental impact study. Additionally, such information is not available upon request. Furthermore, there is a lack of information regarding the circumstances under which the Municipality of Istočni Stari Grad issued a building permit, as well as the true owner behind the company registered in Dover, USA.
The municipality of Istočni Stari Grad did not request an environmental impact study, even for the construction of Roof Gardens. However, a study on Environmental Protection Measures for the Roof Gardens facility was issued by the Prijedor Mining Institute in September 2021. This study includes measures aimed at protecting land, water, noise, air quality, and assessing the project's impact on the quality of these aspects.
WHO IS TAKING CARE OF PROTECTED AREA?
In 2022, the Government of Republika Srpska designated Trebević Nature Park as a protected area. According to the relevant institutions, the construction is deemed legal because it adheres to the previously approved regulatory plan. Trebević Nature Park includes three municipalities in Republika Srpska and covers approximately 5.500 hectares of protected land. Additionally, the Federation portion of Trebević, covering 400 hectares, has been designated as a protected area, managed by the Institution for Protected Natural Areas of Canton Sarajevo.
The City Council of Sarajevo had in 2023 unanimously supported an initiative to revoke the protected area status of part of Dariva and Trebević. Councilor Almedin Miladin from the People and Justice Party initiated the initiative in January. The rationale behind the initiative is that construction of certain tourist and catering facilities has been observed in Trebević's part belonging to the territory of Republika Srpska, while stringent measures are in place on the territory of the Federation, aimed at preserving the natural heritage in the protected area of Trebević. However, there are concerns that this initiative primarily benefits a select few individuals, likely businessmen or entrepreneurs, potentially opening the door to construction in protected areas.
The governments of the entities have established the Inter-Entity Body for the Environment, tasked with coordinating projects from one entity that may affect another entity, such as the Trebević Hills project. Its members are representatives from relevant ministries of both entities. Concerning the Trebević Hills project, the Ministry of Spatial Planning of Republika Srpska has requested information from the City of Istočno Sarajevo, as no representatives from this authority were involved in the planning phase of the project.
Previously, Mayor Ljubiša Ćosić of Istočno Sarajevo mentioned to Žurnal that the soil in the area is highly unstable, and there hasn't been a comprehensive soil analysis conducted. More extensive information on this matter is provided in the Žurnal documentary titled “Devastation of Olympic Mountains.”
WATCH THE MOVIEDevastation of olympic mountains
(zurnal.info)
