Kosovo’s acting Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Fitore Pacolli, has pledged that authorities will continue demolishing illegally constructed buildings across the country, declaring there will be “no compromise” when it comes to protecting public property and enforcing the law.
Under heightened security and with the support of the Kosovo Police, employees of the Public Water Utility Company Ibër-Lepenci and inspectors from the Ministry of Environment on Thursday demolished the “Jezero” motel near Zubin Potok.
The operation was carried out after the deadline given by Ibër-Lepenci for occupants to vacate public property surrounding Lake Ujman expired.
Following the demolition, Pacolli announced that a total of 17 illegally built structures around Lake Ujman have now been removed.
In a statement posted on social media, she said the campaign will expand to other parts of Kosovo, stressing that state institutions will not compromise on safeguarding public property or enforcing the law.
Thursday’s operation follows the first phase of the campaign launched on July 21, when authorities demolished 11 unauthorized structures built on land owned by the Ibër-Lepenci public enterprise.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Faruk Mujka, previously said property owners had been notified on July 3 to vacate the premises by July 17. After the deadline expired without compliance, the company requested the intervention of the Ministry’s Inspectorate to enforce the demolition orders.
Mujka also stated that while the exact number of illegal buildings in the area has yet to be determined, authorities have so far identified more than 80 unauthorized structures, warning that demolition operations will continue in the coming days.
