The European Union Ambassador to Serbia Michael Davenport paid a visit to ongoing water supply system reconstruction works in Trstenik, that suffered damage during May 2014 floods. Rehabilitation of three filtration lakes at the “Staro korito” wellspring, supplying drinking water to some 15.000 residents of the Municipality, is financed by European Union with 192.400 euros.
Main Trstenik’s wellsprings were polluted during the May 2014 floods, when the West Morava River overflew and brought large amounts of sludge, forcing the activation of alternative wellspring “Prnjavor”, that is hardly meeting the needs of residents. So far, one of the three filtration lakes have been made fully operational – water is pumped out, sludge is cleaned and the new layers of sand and gravel needed for filtration have been set – whereas the works on the remaining two are ongoing.
“Making the water supply system in Trstenik fully operational represents one of the biggest single EU investments in terms of removal of last year’s flood consequences. Works on the second lake are now entering their final stage, and the third will be reconstructed shortly after, thus marking the end to the issue faced by the Municipality,” Ambassador Davenport said.
Through EU Assistance for Flood Relief in Serbia Programme, EU has provided some 570.000 euros of assistance to Trstenik in order to rehabilitate water supply system, reconstruct 13 houses, support 19 small enterprises and around 1.200 agricultural households. Five houses have been reconstructed so far, while works on additional eight homes are in their final stage.
“European Union has, alongside its partners, promptly launched the project aimed at resolving the issue of water supply in Trstenik, with the works now being well underway. Flood had unexpectedly caused a lot of damage to the wellspring, which had an impact to life of the Municipality as a whole,” Director of the Office for Reconstruction and Flood Relief Marko Blagojevic said.
Animal feed packages have been delivered to 77 agricultural households. 730 agricultural households have so far received seeds for winter sowing, fertilisers and fruit seedlings in order to restart their production. Following period foresees the delivery of agricultural equipment, seeds and fertilisers for spring sowing, greenhouses and livestock.
“Thanks to the support from European Union and Serbian Government, Trstenik is slowly forgetting the flood-inflicted damage. I am certain that by March we will have wellsprings completely rehabilitated, so as to provide a normal water supply to citizens of Trstenik,” said President of the Municipality Miroslav Aleksic.
“Joint team of donors, the State and the Municipality have had highly efficient cooperation in fighting against the consequences of May 2014 floods. I am glad that today, I see pleased faces of people who have returned to their renewed homes,” Davenport said.
