Protests Against Forest Devastation In Barauliany Continue

In the settlement of Barauliany near Minsk the conflict of citizens and local administration continues.

The conflict started over a decision to build a sewage collector near the houses in the 40th Anniversary of Victory Street. The stumbling block was not only the construction, but a possible cutting of 1.7 ha of parkland next to residential houses.

After negotiations, complaints, several addresses of local dwellers, the authorities finally started cutting the park, Radio Racyja informs.

“We find cutting the forest illegal,” – says a dweller of the settlement Maryana.

“This forest had been moved into the first category. Now everything could be cut. It turns out that the authorities are doing that against [the will] of the people. There has been no discussing with us. That is, our constitutional rights have been violated. They say they allegedly improve city planning. But in reality they deteriorate living conditions for 7,000 citizens. A sewage collector should not be placed in a forest,” – believes the woman.

“But no one listens to the opinion of the local population,” – Maryana added.

Dwellers of the settlement are preparing a collective address to the administration of the president and a complaint to be fined at the Constitutional Court. Local dwellers have also noted that they feel pressure from real estate developers and local authorities. An administrative report had been filed against one of the dwellers of the houses next to the construction site.