"More important than Trepçja"/ What is the importance of the Ibër-Lepenc canal for Kosovo, according to the former director of the security project

After last evening's attack on the Ibër-Lepenc Canal, "Dita" contacted Engr. Erion Perikun for a different perspective of a work that supplies "life" to Kosovo.

Periku, who in the years 2020-21 held the role of Project Director "Water Safety and Canal Protection, Rehabilitation Works for the Ibër-Lepence Canal" financed by the World Bank, from the beginning of the conversation notes that for Kosovo, the Lake of Ujman is more important than Trepcja.

It is called "life", because through this channel water is supplied to a part of Mitrovica, all of Vushtrri, probably more than half of Pristina and the two thermoelectric plants Kosova A and Kosova B.

The 45 km long canal was built by the former Yugoslavia. Over the years, special attention has been paid to its maintenance and modernization, both by the authority of the Republic of Kosovo and by the country's strategic partners who have provided significant funds and grants to projects with these goals.

Periku reveals that the dependence of the area with the highest development potential on Ibër-Lepenc has been an issue that has worried the authorities in Kosovo and partners before. According to him, in 2021, the Ibër-Lepence company tendered the construction of a dam in the village of Mihajliq (Mihajliq Dam). This dam would serve precisely as a "back up" if the channel encountered any technical defect or was subject to sabotage or attack, as in this case.

Although the tender was conducted and the winner was announced, the works did not start. Periku doesn't know what or who got in his way.

This is evident even when asking if the ugly attack on the Ibër-Lepenc Canal could have been of a different nature. Periku does not rule out that it would have been possible.

Erion Periku

After all, almost 20 of the 45 kilometers of the Canal are open, without any kind of protection or barrier. Like Lana of Tirana. So, the attack could have been undertaken differently, but Periku does not want to jump to conclusions or speculate.

The measures taken immediately after the explosion of about 15 kg of explosives - according to Minister Sveçla - with the monitoring of the Canal by the security forces and with the interventions that will undoubtedly be implemented after the meeting of the Security Council, definitely leave no room for panic. among citizens.

However, he states that last night's attack can be seen as a signal or a starting point for taking steps that would prevent even more inclusive and dangerous attacks, where he emphasizes the need for projects to properly protect water.