By: Nova24tv.si
The protesters, at the initiative of Ljubljana city councillor Aleš Primc, gathered for the 31st time in front of Ljubljana’s City Hall before the session of the city council, advocating for the preservation of drinking water and its protection from what they describe as Janković’s contamination. At the rally, they warned that Mayor Janković continues to threaten to launch the dangerous and illegal C0 canal above the drinking‑water catchment areas for 400,000 people.
Opponents of the C0 canal have achieved an exceptional success, as they managed to protect clean drinking water throughout the entire term of Robert Golob’s government. Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković suffered two important defeats at the Administrative Court at the beginning of May. The court’s decisions show that the building permits for the controversial canal are unlawful.
“We have stopped the corruption octopus which, just three and a half years ago, seemed unbeatable, as if it could do absolutely anything it wanted and always get away with it. We have proven that the people are stronger,” councillor Aleš Primc emphasised at the rally.
In the first ruling, the Administrative Court decided that Janković does not hold the easement for one of the plots that was already included in the first building permit. It has therefore been legally established that the very first building permit was unlawful. The second ruling states that Janković must carry out an environmental impact assessment for the C0 canal, which is a prerequisite for issuing a building permit.
“All of Janković’s building permits lack an environmental impact assessment. This means that de facto all building permits are null and void. But to achieve this formally, we will have to go through the courts. Nevertheless, based on this latest ruling of the Administrative Court, all issued building permits are unlawful,” Primc stressed at the rally. As they point out, they have protected the drinking water that more than 400,000 people consume every day from what they describe as Janković’s contamination. They have protected the water that is the source of life and health, and our greatest natural treasure.
If contamination occurred, the entire Slovenian healthcare system would suffer
Ljubljana city councillor and MP Maruša Babnik pointed out that in the area she comes from, the Sostro district, not all residents yet have access to clean drinking water, even though it is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia. “And if we do not continue this fight, even you here, who still have clean water today, may soon lose it, if things continue the way our mayor envisions.” Primc also warned at the rally that if water contamination were to occur in Ljubljana, the entire Slovenian healthcare system would suffer, not just Ljubljana’s.
The residents of Ljubljana and the civil initiatives have achieved yet another victory. More than 14,000 signatures were collected. Janković has already admitted defeat, became afraid of the referendum, and proposed the annulment of the controversial ordinance. “11,400 signatures in Ljubljana represent 5 percent of all residents. In fact, more than 6 percent of all registered voters in Ljubljana signed. This is a very high quorum. It is comparable to collecting 90,000 signatures for a referendum at the national level.” This is the first such victory of the citizens in 20 years of Janković’s rule. They say they must finish the job and replace him as mayor in the elections on 15 November. This is the only way to ensure he will no longer terrorise the residents.