As the large building machinery invades the pristine valleys of Tropoja, in the national park of Valbone, the mountains observe in silence the painful drama as it unfolds. Tubes are being laid out to capture and imprison the beauty of blue Valbona river and turn it into hydropower. It is the latest assault to the environment, the latest conquest of private interest trumping the public one, the latest investment in short term profit at the expense of everything else.
A total of three concessionary contracts have been awarded by the last government in power to build no less than 14 small hydropower plants (HEC), nine out of them inside the supposedly protected territory of the national park.
If they all happen a third of the river bed shall be put under tubes and the prospects for a tourism industry in Valbona will be dismal. Most of all, the spirit of the Albanian Alps, with all their proud beauty and wildlife shall be compromised.
No wonder many many people, from local inhabitants who feel this pain most directly to Albanian singers who live thousands of miles away have protested.
They had to share their disappointment this week with thousands of other Albanians who took to the streets to oppose the new waste import law.
Artists are supposed to protest at the end of the month in a are creative display of revolt that shall use music, painting and other performance arts to try and reverse the situation. However things look pretty bleak as the government ministers repeat in a dull way that the contracts are already given by the former government and are to be respected. If it annuls them it shall have to pay a hefty price in lawsuits.
The more things change the more they remain the same. Nature is always under attack in this country: no matter who is in power. The same business interest mercilessly dissect, abuse and contaminate soil, water and air, uproot plants and trees, kill and endanger animals, birds and bees in search of profit. The same company that holds most of the HPP permits in the northern valley, is supposed to build a monstrous complex just under the dam of the artificial lake of Tirana. Embattled with the municipality at court, the company seems to be gaining the upper hand. Much of the same can be expected in the case of Valbona.
It does not help that the current government cannot do much against the contracts that will ruin the northern valley. However it can do more to investigate them thoroughly for their scandalous environmental permits and their inexistent consultation procedures. Maybe it is likely that if proven fraudulent these contract can then at the least be altered in such a way that they minimize damage. Negotiations are underway but they need to be made stronger and more transparent at the benefit of the public.
Ultimately the valley of Valbona, one of the most symbolic locations for tourism and nature should be protected. Otherwise the government should spare us the hypocrisy. The web page of Albania Tourism Agency still advertises Valbona as it top go-to destination for foreign travelers. They should take that down.
