CONSTRUCTION OF MAIN GAS PIPELINE AND HIGHWAY TO MLINIŠTA FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR CITIZENS

BANJA LUKA, MAY 17 /SRNA/ - The goal of constructing the Šepak - Novi Grad main gas pipeline and the Glamočani-Banja Luka-Mliništa highway is to create the preconditions for a better life for citizens, as well as better economic and industrial progress for Republika Srpska. Therefore, the Bill on Special Expropriation Procedure for the Realization of These Projects should be presented to the National Assembly at its next session.

"It is necessary to pass a special law establishing that the construction of the main gas pipeline and highway is of general public interest, which would define the execution of geodetic and technical works for the purposes of the special expropriation procedure, as well as special rules for administrative proceedings," the explanation of the Bill states. This law, it is added, would provide the legal framework for the unhindered realization of the project, efficiently resolving property and legal relations through a special expropriation procedure, as well as the procurement of documentation for the construction of the main gas pipeline and highway. Overcoming Legal and Administrative Bottlenecks The construction of the main gas pipeline and highway is a complex project in many of its characteristics, and the existing legal framework slows down realization within the scheduled deadlines in certain segments. As further stated, this particularly applies to the mechanism of resolving property and legal relations. For the construction of the main gas pipeline and highway, it is necessary to secure appropriate land rights for the routes, access roads, and the temporary occupation of land that will be used until construction is completed. It was pointed out that resolving property and legal relations in accordance with the deadlines established by the provisions of the current Law on Expropriation would lead to delays in the expropriation procedure, and thus to the possibility of potential material damage to Republika Srpska. "It was necessary for the expropriation procedure defined by this law to prescribe shorter deadlines for certain administrative procedures compared to the deadlines prescribed by the current Law on Expropriation and the Law on General Administrative Procedure," the explanation of the stated act notes. The Bill on Special Expropriation Procedure for the Construction of the Šepak - Novi Grad Main Gas Pipeline and the Glamočani–Banja Luka–Mliništa Highway should be considered by MPs under an expedited procedure at the legislative session on Tuesday, May 19.