Written on August 17, 2023. Posted in Right to water, Women for nature and the environment./Photographs: Sofija Stefanović
Slavica Mošić, a member of the Čuvari Homolja initiative, who turned to the Network of Women for the Protection of Nature and the Environment for support, claims that the exploratory well contaminated their drinking water catchment with heavy metals and physically collapsed it. It is a catchment from which drinking water was supplied to their household for over 80 years, and from which a fountain used as a public fountain was also installed.
Mining explorations carried out for the purpose of opening gold mines endanger both people and nature. The locations of the exploratory wells and the future mine are located in the immediate vicinity of internationally important areas for nature, such as the future NATURA 2000 areas (Veliki karst and Stol, Homolje and Kučaj – Beljanica).
On Saturday, Dundee’s spokeswoman for Serbia appeared at Crni Vrh to talk to the gathered activists. Although there were discussions, concrete answers and information were not forthcoming, and instead those interested were referred to the info center in Žagubica.
What most interested the locals and activists was the pollution that can be seen with the naked eye in the catchment, the springs and fountains that have dried up for many locals, the Mlava, which during heavy rains has a gray turbidity that is not usual. The spokeswoman for Dundee remained absent and without concrete answers to all of this.
The Network of Women for Nature believes that it is inadmissible to develop mining research, let alone to plan mines in an area that is of great importance for the preservation of biodiversity. Also, we appeal to the institutions to investigate this case and protect the locals from irresponsible companies that threaten the human right to water. We invite everyone to support the people of Homolje in their fight for the right to life and for nature.
