Public Debate on “Infrastructure/Urban planning in Mitrovica North – how it is and how I would like

Community Building Mitrovica (CBM) organized a public debate on Infrastructure/Urban Planning in Mitrovica as part of the project “Nasa Stvar/Our Matters”. The project has begun in January in partnership with four NGOs (AKTIV, Mission of People of Good Will, Santa Marija and Youth Empowerment Center) all supported by Dutch organization IKV Pax Christi.

The aim of the project is to increase public participation through public debates on topics related to daily life, citizens feel that they can openly voice their opinions regarding issues that most affect them and propose solutions to existing problems, thus creating a more enabling environment between citizens and the decision makers. 

Infrastructure and urban planning in North Mitrovica has been a problem after the war and division of the town occurred and even after 13 years citizens are facing various issues regarding the aforementioned problem. Still, the water and electricity are most important issues that are left unresolved, but not the only ones citizens are facing, different construction companies are building various objects with suspicious legal and urban planning authorization and inspection which is either non exiting on the field or not working properly. 

An architect Bojana Vasic gave a presentation on urban planning and infrastructure in North Mitrovica reflecting on regulations and laws functioning at the time being and showing the examples of how in practice North Mitrovica should look like and which potentials should be used that are left neglected. After the presentation, the discussion was open. Until now the citizens of North Mitrovica face difficulties when trying to participate in local decision making on various issues among others infrastructure as well.  

Participants express their problems and asking why is nobody giving any answers or nobody is giving the solution and mentioning that they need to be more active, to take actions and make an impact on the authorities and local decision makers. Issues raised during the debate were: • Water and electricity problems in the north; • Building according to the laws and regulations; • To know to whom they can address problems they are facing; • Structures within the authorities are changing very often/persons in charge do not know the field; • Priorities to be made and involve citizens in the process; The main recommendation: Citizens must be more active in making an impact on relevant decision makers, therefore improving their daily lives. And, activities such this debate must go on, in order for citizens to have space to express their voice with a planned follow up period in order to see whether the improvements are made.