Construction works aimed at protection of the Pusta reka river basin from erosion, funded by the European Union and Switzerland through European PROGRES development programme to the tune of EUR200,000, kicked off with the construction of flood barrier in the Pusta reka river basin in the municipality of Bojnik in order to protect local population and their property from future flooding. The project, implemented in cooperation with public water management company “Srbijavode“ – water management centre “Morava” Nis – includes the construction of six flood barriers at several critical points in the municipality of Bojnik, five on the territory of Prokuplje and two more in Lebane.
Due to unregulated river basin of the Pusta reka river and heavy rainfall, this left tributary of the Juzna Morava river has frequently overflown, putting in danger the population in Bojnik, Lebane and Prokuplje and flooding the agricultural land, mainly in spring and autumn. The 2014 floods caused significant damage and brought out the issue of insufficient investment in prevention measures which is why the European Union and the Swiss Government decided to support these activities under the European PROGRES and prevent the Pusta reka from overflowing.
“The construction of anti-erosion barriers has proven to be an efficient system of flood protection since this type of barrier on the Raska river and its tributaries prevented Novi Pazar from flooding in 2014 and 2016. Our goal is to protect the citizens of Bojnik, Lebane and Prokuplje in the same way, but also to encourage other local self-governments to invest in flood protection measures in order to protect not only their property, but also environment,” said Milan Kolasinac European PROGRES infrastructure sector manager.
Depending on weather conditions, the construction works are expected to be completed by the year end.
The European Union and the Government of Switzerland will support the activities of the European PROGRESS programme, which contributes to the sustainable development of the South and South West Serbia, with a total of 24.46 million euros.
The municipalities included in the programme are as follows: Novi Pazar, Ivanjica, Nova Varos, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raska, Sjenica and Tutin in South West Serbia, as well as Prokuplje, Blace, Zitoradja, Kursumlija, Leskovac, Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Medvedja, Crna Trava, Vranje, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vladicin Han, Presevo, Surdulica, Trgoviste, Brus, Aleksinac, Gadzin Han, Doljevac, Merosina, Svrljig, Babusnica, Bela Palanka and Knjazevac in South East Serbia.
