By: C. R.
A few minutes before the rally to protect drinking water from Janković’s contamination, Kučan was seen leaving the Magistrate’s office. We will soon see what he ordered Janković to do,” warned Ljubljana city councillor Aleš Primc on the social network X, who also organised the rally.
The 16th large rally for the protection of drinking water took place, gathering a significant crowd of people who care about the quality of water that the residents of the capital will drink in the future. Aleš Primc was clear in his message: “As long as this canal is not operational, as long as the water is not contaminated, we are winning!”
Primc informed the attendees that the C0 connecting sewage canal, being constructed by the Municipality of Ljubljana under Mayor Zoran Janković, still lacks all the necessary permits for completion. Additionally, the process of determining whether the project requires an environmental impact assessment, and a nature conservation permit is still ongoing. Despite court rulings stating that these assessments are necessary, the government, instead of complying with the courts, passed a decision deeming the documents unnecessary.
Hojs: This is the same modus operandi that Janković uses!
Aleš Hojs, president of the Ljubljana SDS, also addressed the crowd, expressing gratitude to SDS MP Anja Bah Žibert for her efforts within the parliamentary commission to prevent the implementation of the C0 canal. Regarding the government’s decision to bypass the environmental impact assessment, Hojs believes it follows the same modus operandi that Janković uses, as all his court rulings have failed – implying that the judiciary has no power over them. During the rally, Hojs played a recording from a session of the Ljubljana City Council, where a woman’s voice was heard. Primc explained that this was a recording of negotiations (read: bribery) with a landowner for the needs of the C0 canal.
The rally organiser, Aleš Primc, emphasised: “The fight for drinking water is a national, not just a Ljubljana issue, because Janković is a national, not just a Ljubljana problem!”
Primc: You have significantly contributed to ensuring that the water is not yet contaminated!
As Primc reports, there is still a way to stop the C0 project, specifically by having people register as interested parties in the process for issuing the construction permit. “Janković has submitted another request to the administrative unit for the issuance of a construction permit for the C0 canal! Anyone with an interest can register as an interested party in the process – all those who regularly or occasionally drink water in Ljubljana. We invite you to fill out your information in the template for registration (attached) as an interested party, print it, sign it, and send it as soon as possible to the address of the administrative unit. Instructions for completing the form are also in the attachment (see below). The more people who register as interested parties, the longer the process will take, and the greater the chance that the construction permit for the dangerous and illegal C0 canal will not be issued. Registering as an interested party is free of charge. Please notify us that you have registered as an interested party via email: [email protected] so that we can keep you informed of further steps. Thank you to everyone who has already done this. You have significantly contributed to ensuring that the water is not yet contaminated,” says Primc.
At the same time, Primc informs that the fight for drinking water has already borne fruit, as they managed to protect Ljubljana’s drinking water from Janković’s contamination even in October. “We prevented Janković from completing and launching the dangerous and illegal C0 canal. Janković plans to release more than 3,000,000 litters of hazardous sewage waste daily through this life-threatening sewage canal above the drinking water reservoirs. And this through leaking pipes, located in the most earthquake-prone area in Slovenia,” he explained.
The government continues to violate court decisions
Last week, under Janković’s pressure, the government issued a decision that directly violates the ruling of the administrative court, which mandated a substantive decision on whether the dangerous and illegal C0 canal requires an environmental impact assessment and a nature conservation permit. In March this year, the administrative court ruled that the responsible state authority must substantively decide whether these assessments are necessary. Instead of complying with the court’s mandate, the government decided that the appeal was unjustified, despite both the Supreme and administrative courts ruling that the appeal was valid and that a decision must be made on the necessity of the environmental impact assessment and the nature conservation permit for the C0 canal. “In other words, Janković and Golob, in their attempt to contaminate the water consumed by over 400,000 people, disregard laws, expertise, and even court decisions. Therefore, MASS PARTICIPATION in rallies to protect drinking water is ESSENTIAL!” says Primc.
He also warns that in Klagenfurt, they did not protect their drinking water in time. As a result, they had contaminated water for more than a month, and many people were hospitalised with intestinal problems. “This can still be prevented in Ljubljana and Slovenia. People from all over Slovenia should join the rallies in Ljubljana. Janković is not just a Ljubljana problem but a problem for all of Slovenia, as he, through his influence, controls and harms the entire country.”
Primc also adds that the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, under intense pressure from Zoran Janković, issued consent for the construction of a parking garage under the Ljubljana marketplace. By yielding to Janković’s pressure, the Institute opened the door for issuing a building permit for the dangerous garage, which would destroy old Ljubljana, including the cathedral and Plečnik’s marketplace.