Illegal Quarry Continues its Devastation of Papuk Park of Nature

Osjecki zeleni

The Osjek Greens association sent an open letter today, to all Members of the Sabor (Croatian Parliament), on the occasion of the start of Debate on problems in Pozega-Slavonija County. The open letter demands expansion of investigation and urgent legal measures to stop the work and close the �Velicanka 2� quarry, operated by Kamen-Ingrad company from Velika, currently involved in bankruptcy procedures.

The quarry is located inside the boundaries of the �Papuk� Park of Nature. Moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the biggest illegally operating quarry in Croatia that causes irreparable damages to the national natural and archaeological heritage at the Plis Maliscak site.

The quarry continues its operations, in spite of the fact that the authorities have started investigation against Vlado Zec, the owner of the company, while Kamen-Ingrad itself has filed for bankruptcy. Between January and July of this year, the quarry has produced a total of 223.166 cubic metres of stone (cca 359.000 tons), sold at an average price of 17 kuna per ton.

The quarry also prevents the inclusion of �Papuk� Park in UNESCO�s World Natural Heritage List, as the most valuable geological park in the regiona, of extraordinary geological, natural and historical diversity, in spite of the fact that media have reported otherwise.

Osjek Greens have fought, since 2003, to prove the grave violations of the Law on Environmental Protection and the Criminal Code provisions covering the intentional devastation of the environment that occur daily in the Velicanka Quarry, the Park itself, the village of Velika and the County. The organization has also reported, on regular basis, all devastation to the competent ministries, the state prosecution office and the local authorities in the Pozega-Slavonija County.

The letter also mentions the fact that the State Mining Inspector has prohibited the work of the quarry in September 2004. However, at the initiative of Vlado Zec, former Manager of Kamen-Ingrad Ltd., the seals were broken by Mining Inspector Katana, on February 16, 2005. Several days later, the Environmental Protection Inspector of the Ministry of Culture again issued a ban on operations of the quarry.

Osjek Greens warn that none of the existing decisions and permits for exploitation of stone, issued by the competent offices of the Pozega-Slavonija County, are legal and represent grave violations of the Law.

Nonetheless, the Property Commission of the Government concluded two more agreements for exploitation with Kamen Ingrad on the basis of such fake documentation. Kamen Ingrad has never received the environmental protection requirements, which would be obligatory having in mind that it operates quarries in protected areas.

Osjek Greens appeal to the Members of the Sabor to take into consideration these facts and to ensure that Croatian laws are implemented inside the Papuk Park of Nature. This could only be done through full ban of operations of Velicanka 2 quarry.