19.08.2014.

Beginning of the reconstruction of houses in Obrenovac

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, with members of the Government, visited today the citizens of Obrenovac and members of the Armed Forces of Serbia that are, as of this morning, deployed again on clearing up this city.

The Prime Minister talked to the citizens whose houses have been partially or completely damaged by the disastrous floods in May. He pointed out that, so far, 2,500 orders have been issued, that every day 200 are paid off and that complaints have been filed against only 56 orders. Vucic expressed his concern over the fact that there are people who wait over 15 days after the orders have been issued for their payment, stressing that it is unacceptable.

- We will rebuild all public facilities. We have repaired the lightning system, everyone has electricity, the sewerage and collector are working, and we have settled all matters for the heating and plumbing systems – Prime Minister said, adding that the issue of sewerage in Urovce is still unresolved, and that it is a capital project.

- The state is giving what it can and what it has to give. And we are giving more than we announced. An average of 250,000 dinars was predicted, and it will be 350,000 RSD – Vucic said. He announced that, if not enough money is left, which is likely to happen, there will be another round of payments for citizens of Obrenovac and other people afflicted by the floods.

Later during their visit, Prime Minister and ministers visited “Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj” Elementary School, which is the first object to be reconstructed using the means of the European Union. 1,539 pupils from Obrenovac are waiting for this object to be reconstructed.

- The most important thing is that we know where every dinar goes. Renovating this school costs over 160,000 euros. When you see how many such objects we have, you realize that we are not talking about a small sum of money at all – Vucic said, thanking the European Union for their help.

When asked if the Sava rising 1.2 meters in Obrenovca worried him, considering that no work had been done on the levees, Prime Minister said that he is also worried about the rivers in Krupanj and Valjevo.

- We have allocated the first sum for “Srbija Vode” 7 days ago. Money is a great issue, because, for the first upcoming works, we need about 22 million euros – Prime Minister said, stressing that help from the European Union would be rather welcome here.

- At this moment, 18 machines of the Armed Forces of Serbia are here. We have another five coming tomorrow; all the planned locations will be cleared up as scheduled – Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic said. Several days ago, he had also announced that the Armed Forces of Serbia will be clearing up the streets of Obrenovac again.

Principal of “Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj” Vera Djordjevic pointed out that this institution is one of the most severely affected ones during the floods in May. She thanked the Prime Minister and representatives of the European Union for the means and help in reconstruction, on behalf of the pupils and the school’s staff.

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation Oscar Benedict expressed his pleasure for being present at the beginning of the reconstruction works of one of the six schools that will be reconstructed with the means of the European Union.

- The total amount of our support so far is 30 million euros, which are, for now, allocated for reconstructing public facilities and citizens’ houses in 24 municipalities that have been hit by the floods - Deputy Head of the EU Delegation said, announcing another 50 million euros that will be intended for prevention and protection from floods.

During the early hours, the reconstruction of the first damaged and demolished houses has also begun, and members of the Armed Forces of Serbia started clearing up the parcels.

The Army Workgroup, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Zivko Jovanovic, is removing the objects proclaimed unlivable, so that new houses are built at those posts as soon as possible.

- We have 60 members of all formations of the Army working on clearing up, divided in eight teams, clearing up from the early morning the parcels for building new objects – Lieutenant Colonel Jovanovic said, convinced that the work will be finished in the planned time period.

Today, the reconstruction of the first house – home of the Ivanovic family – has begun in 65 Kninska Street, in Rvati.

- Our house has been completely demolished during the floods. First, we were at our relatives’, and now we are in a tent. I hope that everything will be built quickly – Sladjana Ivanovic said, expressing her gratitude to the Armed Forces and the Municipality for their care and swift action.

Of 169 objects that have been reported to have been demolished during the floods in May, damage has so far been confirmed on 62, since they are main residential objects, and not secondary facilities, of which only 9 have the permission for the beginning of the reconstruction. In the next few days, it is planned for the Armed Forces to clear up the 62 parcels intended for construction, in order for all objects demolished by the disastrous floods to be reconstructed and finished before the winter.