In June last year, the government of Albania approved through a special decision the construction of a 62 megawatt solar power plant in the village of Taç in Kolonje.
According to the decision, the project would cover an area of 412 hectares and its beneficiary company was Fortis Energy and Construction. This company is owned by a Turkish businessman named Mehmet Uckardes.
The use of such a large area had a direct consequence on the residents of the area. It endangered their income and livelihood.
Unheard by the institutions of their state, then neither the mirror nor the faithful presence had been invented, the inhabitants of the village of Taç i Sipërm rose in protest in January of this year.
Residents indicated that over 40 livestock farmers of the area, who keep sheep and cows, have been working on these grazing areas for years. They stated that taking these pastures directly endangers the livelihood of families that depend on livestock.
According to them, these lands have been traditionally used by the community and constitute the main source of survival for the village.
“How will we live? These are the pastures of the village. This village has lived with them. If they take them from us, where will we take the cattle? There are about 40 farmers who graze sheep and cows on these lands”, said the residents.
But their protests fell on deaf ears. Following the government’s decision, Erion Isai and the Cologne City Council quickly approved the other necessary permits for the project. While in May of this month, the National Council of the Territory also approved the construction permit, paving the way for the start of the construction of the photovoltaic park.
The residents claim that they have ownership documents for a part of the land that falls within the large area of 412 hectares, which was stolen by the Turkish businessman, and that they have filed a report with the prosecutor’s office for this matter. According to them, the case is already in court for a substantive review.
“We have land caps. They seized them from us and we have taken them to court. Now we are waiting to see how it will end”, say the residents.
But the conclusion is already known. The Turkish company is moving forward with construction. The pastures and lands with which the inhabitants of Taçi i Përm depended on their livelihood are already being destroyed by the superimposition of massive panels.
