Illegal construction, another anomaly in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s society. The exact number is difficult to determine because there is neither a register nor a law that would prevent illegal construction. How can it be prevented, are there no reactions from the authorities and why?
In recent years, Bihać has become an increasingly interesting tourist destination. Few remain immune to the beauty of Štrbački buk and the Japod Islands. There is an ever-increasing offer of accommodation facilities, and the construction of cottages that are apparently wooden, but actually concrete, is a picture that can be seen more and more often. Illegal construction is booming.
“Certain terraces are being built, in the water zone, cottages that are then converted into accommodation facilities. This is not bad, but the problem is that illegal construction in zones where this is not possible. Therefore, we are in danger that in the coming period, if this continues tendency, to get a counter-effect,”, Amarildo Mulic, the Director of the National Park “Una” says.
As a consequence, today floods are being recorded in places where they have not occurred before, and the professional public is also warning about the deteriorating quality of water.
VILDANA ALIBABIĆ, professor at the Biotechnical Faculty in Bihać
“For the third year in a row, before and after the season, I have been taking water samples upstream and downstream. If we are in Kralje, it is the third city bridge down the river, last year in August we had water quality of class four – that said it all.”
There are several thousand illegally built buildings in the Bihać area alone. According to the authorities, the causes are numerous, but those who decide on this type of construction know that there are shortcomings in the law.
“Perhaps it is the lengthy procedures for issuing construction documents, perhaps it is the high prices of services and costs in obtaining construction documents, and perhaps it is just the arbitrariness of investors and the path of least resistance to avoid paying taxes and fees,” Damir Smajic, assistant to the mayor of Bihać, adds.
Legalization would bring profit, but we return again to the main problem: the lack of a registry. And the law that would prevent illegal construction. And, where there is no law, there are no sanctions.
