No to hydropower plants on Nera river – villagers of Prigor in the Romanian county of Caraș-Severin remained determined after meeting investors on February 16, Moj kraj portal from the Serbian city of Pančevo reported. The locals were supported by environmentalist associations from Serbia and Romania as well as people from the academic community. The Caraş Severin Environmental Protection Agency can’t issue an impact assessment study, a condition for the building permit for the two small hydro units, without the consent from the locals.
The plan is for the systems to be installed near primeval forests which may be included in Unesco’s World Heritage List. Half a kilometre away is the national park Semenic-Cheile Carașului, the article said. The public consultation on the environmental impact assessment study was also attended by representatives of Serbian media, associations and local authority from border Municipality of Bela Crkva, responsible for the protected area of Karaš-Nera. Municipality chief Darko Bogosavljević said no official information reached him nor the bilateral commission of Serbia and Romania for water management.
