Illegal sand excavation on the Vardar near Sirichino damages riverbed
Fishing club Ribolovec-Vardar says two excavators and three trucks from an unknown firm were found and asks authorities to verify permits.
Heavy machinery was used to remove sand illegally from the Vardar riverbed near the village of Sirichino, close to Tetovo, causing significant damage to the channel and the surrounding area, local fishing representatives said.
Members of the fishing club Ribolovec-Vardar, which holds the concession for this stretch of the river and is responsible for protecting the local fish stock, alerted authorities after a report from a resident.
"After a citizen's report I went to the site itself and noticed an illegal excavation with two excavators and three trucks belonging to a firm so far unknown. I believe it is necessary to determine whether the work was carried out with the appropriate permits and consent from the competent institutions," said Bozhidar Grozdanovski of the Ribolovec-Vardar fishing club from Brvenica.
Damage and questions for authorities
According to the club's account, the removal of sand has altered parts of the riverbed and harmed nearby banks, increasing the risk of erosion and harming habitats used by fish and other riverine wildlife.
Ribolovec-Vardar called for an immediate verification of documentation and for competent bodies to inspect the site, to establish whether the activity was authorized and to assess the scale of the environmental impact. The identity of the company operating the machines remains unknown.
Photo: Fejsbuk)
