Protests erupt in southern village over water supply project for touristic areas
Residents of Tragjas, a village in Vlora Municipality, have been protesting for several days against the construction of a new water supply system that aims to provide drinking water to their area and the tourist zone of Dhërmi, in Himara. They accuse the authorities that the project will deprive the village of water to serve wealthy touristic areas.
Why is this important: Skepticism among Tragjas residents reflects a broader distrust in public infrastructure projects, particularly those related to water, due to past mismanagement. Many Albanians believe that large-scale developments often prioritize wealthy investors over local communities. It also exposes the failure of central and local authorities to properly engage in community consultations about projects that affect their livelihoods.
Context: The €7 million project, funded by the National Agency of Water Supply and Sewerage, begins in the village of Tragjas, at the Izvor Spring, and extends to Dhërmi, an area that has become synonymous with high end luxury development. Protesters argue that diverting water from the Izvor Spring to supply Dhërmi will leave their village without sufficient water. They claim the project benefits wealthy resort owners in Himara rather than local communities.
However, Prime Minister Edi Rama has rejected these claims, emphasizing that the investment will first and foremost provide drinking and irrigation water for Tragjas itself. Addressing the protests in a live social media broadcast, calling the accusations against the project illogical.
“If this were a hydroelectric plant, I would understand the concerns about excessive water use threatening irrigation. But a water supply system?! How can a project meant to provide drinking water ‘dry up’ an area? This is completely illogical.”
Rama added that he had consulted with project engineers, who confirmed that the water flow would not be affected, and that the remaining water would still be sufficient for local needs and the environment.
The Vlora Water Supply Company reports that the Izvor Spring has a flow rate of up to 1,800 liters per second, with most of it currently running into the sea unused. The Prime Minister has instructed local authorities to publicly present technical explanations to local media to clarify concerns and ensure that expert opinions, rather than emotions, shape the debate.
What’s next: The construction of the water supply system is nearly complete, with pipelines already laid from Dhërmi to Tragjas. However, continued protests and blocked works could jeopardize both the investment and the drinking water supply for one of Albania’s most important tourist areas.
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