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Šupli Kamen residents protest Pčinja river sand excavation
Residents of the village of Šupli Kamen in North Macedonia have staged protests and blockades to stop sand excavation in the Pčinja riverbed. The villagers claim that the dredging has already deepened the riverbed by more than five meters in some areas, leading to a drop in groundwater levels that threatens local wells and agricultural irrigation.
Protesters expressed concerns for public safety, citing four past fatal incidents involving deep pits created by previous excavations. The Levica political party has voiced support for the residents, criticizing AD Vodostopanstvo and its director, Filip Filipovski, for allowing the work to resume. Levica is demanding an immediate halt to the operations, urgent inspection oversight, and the public release of all permits and technical documentation.
In response to the protests, the State Inspectorate for Environmental Protection conducted a field visit. Inspectors stated that the operator currently holds a valid permit from the Ministry for riverbed management and that no immediate irregularities were identified during their assessment.
Entities
AD Vodostopanstvo · Filip Filipovski · Levica · Pčinja River · Šupli Kamen
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] AD Vodostopanstvo is responsible for the work through a private contractor. nezavisen.mk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The party demands an immediate halt to the excavations and public disclosure of all technical documentation. nezavisen.mk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The operator possesses a permit from the Ministry for riverbed management. utro.mk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Four tragic incidents occurred in the past due to deep pits created by previous excavations. nezavisen.mk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Sand excavation in the Pčinja riverbed is causing water levels in wells to drop and flooding agricultural fields. utro.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] The riverbed has been deepened by more than five meters in certain locations. utro.mk · nezavisen.mk