Pristina Mayor Progress Rama has accused the Government of lack of financial support and obstruction of major infrastructure projects in the capital, particularly citing the capital’s ring and the Opera project.

In an interview for Online Economy, Rama has said Pristina contributes at least 2.1 billion euros to the state budget, while from the central level it receives only 161m euros, where, according to him, nearly half are spent on salaries.

Yeah, I’ve called on the government to think about the capital because the capital pays half the state budget. So if the state budget is 4.3 billion, Pristina with its citizens, with its businesses it pays the central rate of 2.1 billion at least. 2.1 billion. Until it gets back 161 million, where nearly half of them are salaries, Rama said.

One of the projects Rama has expressed dissatisfaction with is the capital ring, which he has said the realisation process has dragged on for more than four years.

He has stressed that this project is in the interest not only of the residents of Pristina, but also of other Kosovo citizens who circulate in the capital.

Likewise, you don’t think we’ve been looking for the ring to build the capital ring for almost four years, because it’s for the good of not only the capital, but all of Kosovo. They’ve been blocking this process, and now after four years they’re saying they’ve been budgeting it, he’s got it.

Rama has recalled that, according to a European Bank analysis for Reconstruction and Development ( BERZH in 2021, the cost of building the ring was estimated at 206m euros.

However, he has said that the government’s budgetary divisions over years have been significantly lower than the amount needed for project implementation.

So in 2021 the budget, which was analysed by the EBRD from the European Development Bank, was 206 million to build the ring. How much did the government split them? One million in the first year, 10th, 50th. So a total of 61 million, Rama has been expressed.

Pristina’s leader has demanded that at least 206m euros be provided for the ring’s construction, warning that the cost may have increased due to price change.

According to him, the project should be completed within two years, or at least three years.

The ring has to be built for two years, 24 months, or probably three years. So it’s going to have to split up at least 206 million in advance since 2021. And given that the prices have moved, there should be more than 206 million more, he added.

Rama has continued criticism of the government, charging that it is hindering the development of the capital and is giving citizens promises of investment, while, according to him, failing to implement them.

So, the government unfortunately shuts up to the citizens of the capital, continues with lies, continues in a row against the capital, but this is now happening. I’m saying, we as the capital are continuing with major projects, as they continue with sab run-offs, blockades and roots, he’s got a point.

Despite the accusations, Pristina’s chairman has called on central institutions to reflect and co-operate with the municipality for the implementation of projects.

I wish them to reflect, actually invite them to reflect and cooperate, Rama said.

The criticism has also addressed the opera project, rejecting plans for its construction in the space that connects the Youth Palace with Arberia neighbourhood.

According to Rama, the municipality in the past has been prevented from developing projects in that area with the reasoning of protecting cultural heritage, while now, according to him, building a major object is being planned.

You have seen their project with Opera, for example, that completely ignores this platform that connects the youth palace together with Arberia. So, so far on behalf of that cultural heritage we’ve been blocked, and now I’m doing a super large building there that doesn’t come to the capital, because we have the concert hall, Rama added.

He has estimated that major projects must be planned and realised in co-operation between institutions, so that public funds can be exploited in the interest of citizens.

In the end, Rama has said that the consequences of obstructing projects are not carried personally, but by citizens of the capital, especially by young people.

We’ve been discussing and saying, come and talk about it because these, all of these developments have to be co-ordinated, co-ordinated for the good of the citizens, not for the sake of spending funds on the citizens’ budgets that pay taxes, so, to be wasted, even more used for blockades, so against the citizens, actually, that I don’t care. Citizens, our youth, our future is blocking and sabotaging, not Rama, has ended.

Source Layer: Dukeagini