(17.10.2018)
KDI has continued with the organization of meetings between citizens and local authorities in villages across 11 municipalities of Kosovo, where issues of interest to residents and opportunities for addressing them by institutions were discussed.
During the past two weeks, 8 meetings of this nature took place within the project “Increase accountability of local government institutions” supported by the British Embassy in Pristina.
#Dragash
Vranishtë: During the meeting between residents of Vranishtë and local authorities, the need for improvement of road infrastructure, sewage, drinking water and school facilities was emphasized. In this regard, representatives of the Municipality provided explanations and information on the budget for 2019 for this village as well as the commitment to fulfill some of the above mentioned requirements such as: drinking water and sewage network throughout the village.
Rapçë: For residents of this village priority issues in need for addressing are drinking water supply, reconstruction of QMF facility in the village, lack of medical staff and poor electrical energy. These residents had their chance to address these requests to the municipal representatives from whom they received a promise to address some of them in the coming year.
Pllavë: The meeting with Pllavë residents also highlighted a number of problems they face. Improvement of road infrastructure, wastewater and waste management, school warming, recreational areas are some of the issues that the residents of this village expect to be addressed by the municipality of Dragash/Dragaš in order to improve their daily life. The Deputy Mayor of this municipality, who was present at the meeting gave the commitment to address some of these requests during the coming year.
Kuk: For residents of the village of Kuk, the access to water supply and sewerage, regulation of road infrastructure and school facilities are priority concerns. These were presented during the meeting they had with local authorities, respectively with the municipal finance director, who presented readiness to address some of these issues.
#Graçanicë
Preoce: A meeting in Preoce was held between an unorganized group from the Roma community and representatives of the Municipality of Gracanica. Citizens expressed their concerns about the problems they face with social assistance, social buildings and basic infrastructure problems in their home country. The present municipal officials pledged to explore the opportunities to provide solutions to the problems faced by these citizens.
#Viti
Skifteraj: At the meeting between the residents of the village of Skifteraj and the municipal officials of Vitia, a grant that the village had obtained for the water supply regulation, which is left in half was discussed. Also worrying for these residents are the problems with road infrastructure, lack of fences in the school, etc. Meanwhile, concrete issues agreed by all parties to include in the municipal plans were the provision of a water supply solution, hump coverage, subsidies for the women’s association and fencing of the elementary school “Kenan Halimi”. All this was said to be taken into account next year.
#Drenas
Gllobar: The residents of the village of Gllobar, among the few requests they informed the municipal officials about, as the most urgent of them were the regulation of the sewage manhole from which the sewage is flowing, the placement of traffic signs on the village roads, the pavement pavement, freeing the space of a part of the site near the cemetery and removing inert dumps. Meanwhile, municipal officials vowed to engage in solving some of the residents’ demands, as was the case for the canalization well. Regarding the concern of the intertwine landfills, the Director of Public Services said that the municipality has already set up a location for internet waste, expressing confidence that during this month the landfills will be removed from the village. While for other requests, they said some of them will be on the plan for next year.
Nekovc: At the meeting held with the residents of Nekovc, they presented the municipal officials their dissatisfaction with the quality of the works that were done with the extension of the sewerage system. They said the project was not implemented according to the plan, and as a consequence some families are left unconnected to the system, and the company has not worked to leave the roads at their previous conditions. Municipal officials complained that during these works there were obstacles by residents. Residents of the village were promised by municipal officials that next year the cleaning of the village’s main road from the bush will be done, which was one of the residents’ concerns.