Works resume on the wastewater treatment plant in Botun

The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property announced today that the preconditions have been met for the construction site of the wastewater treatment plant in Botun to resume operations.

As stated by the Ministry, works resumed today at 10:30 a.m., in line with the planned schedule of one of the most important infrastructure projects in the field of environmental protection in Montenegro.

The purpose of the plant, they recalled, is to provide a permanent solution to the long-standing problem of untreated wastewater in Podgorica and the surrounding area.

The construction site of the wastewater treatment plant in the Zeta village of Botun was sealed on January 29 by an urban-planning and construction inspector due to, as stated by the Ministry, minor and easily remediable irregularities.

The Ministry emphasized that it will continue to support all activities that contribute to improving the quality of life of citizens and protecting the public interest.

Works on the construction of the wastewater treatment system in Botun may continue without interruption after the identified shortcomings were removed and the competent inspection carried out a follow-up site visit, it was announced today.

The company „Collection and Treatment of Wastewater Podgorica“ also stated today that the competent inspection conducted a follow-up site inspection after the observed deficiencies at the construction site had been eliminated.

- During the previous days, works at the construction site were temporarily suspended in order to remedy technical and administrative deficiencies identified during the inspection. In the meantime, the contractor and the supervising authority acted in accordance with all orders issued by the competent authorities, after which the inspector carried out a control inspection and confirmed that the conditions for the continuation of works had been met – said Chief Supervision Engineer at the company „Fichtner“ Richard Sampson.

The company stated that the project is currently in the initial phase of construction, which includes site preparation, installation of temporary facilities, and execution of earthworks, including excavation for the main structure of the future biological treatment basins.

- In the coming period, continuation of construction works on the foundations and walls of the aeration basins is planned, as well as the start of construction of the plant’s administrative building - the statement added.

The construction of the wastewater treatment plant represents a legal and contractual obligation of the Capital City and the state, but above all, as they emphasized, a key project for the protection of public health and the environment.

- Its construction is therefore not only a project of local, but of public and national interest. Upon completion of the plant, the problem of discharging untreated wastewater into the Morača River, Lake Skadar, and the Adriatic Sea will be permanently resolved – the company concluded.