By: Ž. N. (Nova24TV.si)
The residents of the Struge hamlet in the Municipality of Luče are absolutely fed up because two months after the floods, they still have not received an answer from the state regarding whether they can return home or need to relocate. While the majority of the 50 residents remain displaced, authorities informed them during a recent meeting that the decision will only be made in December.
Buried, inclined, undermined, and damp houses make it impossible for people to live there. Only three families, whose houses were less damaged, have returned home so far, according to reports from Televizija Slovenija. The remaining residents of Luče are still in a dilemma about whether to even start rebuilding or to go somewhere else where it will be safer to live. However, after two months, there is still no clear answer to this, even though we heard promises from authorities to act quickly after the floods.
They want to get an answer within ten days
Irena Kosmač, a resident of Luče who lost everything except the clothes she was wearing in a matter of moments, has temporary accommodation arranged until April. “I am very worried because I do not know where I will go after that since there are no vacant apartments in Luče,” she said with concern. “It has been long, has it not? Now, a lot could be done when the weather is so nice,” said one of the residents.
“Two months have passed, things have calmed down a bit, and I hope they come to us to continue the process,” said one resident. “Otherwise, unfortunately, we will resort to more drastic measures, even close the main road ourselves, if necessary, to make ourselves noticed,” said another. Residents find it absolutely unacceptable that the decision on whether relocation is necessary will only be known around the New Year. They want an answer within ten days, and if not, they do not rule out civil disobedience.
The foundations of buildings need to be repaired before winter
According to public television reports, the Municipality of Luče has already sent 10 proposals for possible replacement locations to the authorities, but they have not received any responses so far. The mayor of the municipality, Klavdij Strmčnik, stated that no one dares to take responsibility and say that it will be done this way, so that in 20 years, it will not turn out that a mistake was made. “I still believe that if we make a decision, we can still correct it. If we decide on nothing, we will do nothing,” he said.
Strmčnik told that they are working to ensure that families receive the necessary information. He also recalled a meeting with representatives of the technical office in the second half of last month, where it was said that a project task would be prepared, based on which a geological survey of the landslide area would be conducted by a geologist. The mayor believes that people are entirely justified in their dissatisfaction because, in nine weeks, there is still no answer to whether the flooded homes can be repaired or not. “Flash floods have damaged the foundations of buildings, which need to be repaired or concreted before winter.”
The Service for Flood and Landslide Recovery claims that the settlement of Struge is their priority. According to them, their expert teams have been on-site twice, but the landslide is the biggest problem. They state that geologists need to come up with professional solutions and determine whether it is harmful or not. After initial inspections, it was found that house rehabilitation is possible. “Due to the water, the houses are undermined, eroded, and life-threatening, making it impossible to live in them. We live in seven different locations, functioning as families is difficult, and we have mobility problems because 13 cars were either washed away or destroyed,” say the representatives of the families. They assess that “the technical office evidently does not work and has no effect, while their homes deteriorate daily without any life inside.”
The representatives of the families are urging authorities to inform them as soon as possible about the fate of their settlement so that they can relocate elsewhere. “In this time, we also have to provide for our families with our jobs. We are dealing with the restoration ourselves, but we notice that we are forgotten and powerless in this matter, as we dedicate all our free time to preserving our homes,” they express with disappointment.