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Is this year going to be historic for Veles?
The beginning of this year, seen from the aspect of the civic movement in the country, seems quite optimistic. The Veles inhabitants got an exclusive opportunity to shorten their decade-long “hard walk” and by supporting the initiative of the “Green Coalition” in the city, to influence the possible change of the general town-planning to dislocate the smeltering factory, the notorious polluter of the town and its surrounding.
The initiative, according to which, the factory is to be dislocated 18 kilometers to the south away from the town, was greeted by the mayor of Veles, Ace Kostovski. The Macedonian Orthodox Church and the Islamic Community, the parties in Veles and the members of parliament from the town also support the initiative and are expected to lobby further for the proposal.
The initiative for dislocating the polluter, which is expecting its buyer, besides the seven members of the Green Coalition, is also supported by various individuals, intellectuals from the town. Interest for joining the coalition was shown by the beekeepers, organized farmers, athletes, etc.
In the town, famous for its great influence on the social, cultural and historic events in the country, the citizens are eager to see the end of the repeated story that caused bad health condition for many people since the economic interest has always been favored.
Having in mind the beginning of the year, it is possible that it be historic for Veles. The civic movement won the victory in the fight for respecting the right to live in a healthy and clean environment. However, the optimism will only be confirmed after the government makes the expected move.
Even the biggest optimists are familiar with the decade treatment of the issue of environmental protection in this country and have the full right to lack trust in the statements made by the institutions in charge before they witness the result of their fight. Unfortunately, they had been taught by the experience.
Katerina Bogoeva
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