Environmental activists to file 200+ objections over mining provisions in Draft State Spatial Plan

Environmental activists from the South‑East Planning Region say they will not back down: mining projects should not be planned in an agricultural area. After the public hearing on the Draft State Spatial Plan, the group "Zdrava Kotlina" announced it will file more than 200 objections that challenge the provisions dealing with mineral resources and the planned mining projects.

Key projects and risks

The activists singled out Ilovica‑Shtuka and Kazandol as focal points of their objections, and raised broader questions about how the plan would manage risks to farming, water resources and the wider environment. They argue that the spatial plan's current language leaves agricultural zones vulnerable to long‑term degradation if mining is permitted.

According to the announcement, the objections will contest both the mapping of mineral resource zones and the legal or technical solutions proposed for carrying out mining in predominantly agricultural territories. The group warned that inadequate safeguards could affect irrigation, groundwater and soil quality.

Representatives of Zdrava Kotlina said the campaign will use the formal objection procedure opened after the public debate and encouraged farmers and local residents to contribute concerns and documentation supporting the filings. The activists also called for clearer, stricter rules to separate mining activity from highest‑value agricultural land.

The issue is likely to remain contentious as the Spatial Plan advances: supporters of mineral extraction point to economic benefits and resource development, while opponents emphasise long‑term environmental and food‑production costs. A short poll accompanying the original report asked: "Should mining projects be planned in an agricultural region? Yes/No"—an indication of the public debate the subject continues to provoke.

Photo: press material from the event