Press release, 5 March 2019 – On Wednesday, 27th of February 2019 the deadline to submit comments to a draft decree that withdraws the concession to Dravske elektrarne Maribor to build 8 hidropowerplant (HPP) dams on Mura between Sladki Vrh and Veržej.
Support for this draft decree was expressed from 100 scientists and more than 100 organisations from Slovenia and other European countries. Considering the fact that the area has just recently been proclaimed a Biosphere reserve, the confirmation of this decree is urgent and only logical as a next step. Supporters of the free flowing Mura expect immediate revocation of the concession and a long term protection of the Mura River – regardless of events on the political stage and without unnecessary delays.
»The majority of Slovenian political parties said in a survey before the election that they are against building of the HPPs on the river Mura. Governmental parties even put that in writing in the Coalition Agreement. I hope that the prime minister will do everything possible to permanently protect the river and remove it from all plans for energy use. We are rightfully expecting that the prime minister will contribute with his authority to fulfilment of the promise and show everyone that the Coalition Agreement was signed with clean intentions,«
says Samo Tuš, the president of NGO association Moja Mura.
»The river Mura together with the Drava and Danube forms a network of 1000km of still free flowing rivers and tributaries. It is home to 51 indigenous fish species, which places this river first on national levelby the number of fish species. It is rightfully called the »queen of biodiversity« and it has a huge potential for improving its ecological state by river revitalisation . »It is about time that the government puts an end to the 30 years of fight for the Mura river and permanently protects this gem,«
stated Andreja Slameršek, president of the Slovenian Native Fish Society.
»We are holding the prime minister, Mr. Marjan Šarec accountable and demand to immediately put the topic of Mura River on the agenda for the regular session and to revoke the concession to build 8 HPPs. We also expect the new minister of environment to continue the procedures for deciding upon a final and permanent solution regarding the river Mura and enable locals between Šentilj and the Croatian border to have a healthy living environment to develop green tourism,«
adds Sonja Bezjak, from the Museum of Maddness, Trate.