FERTILE AGRICULTURAL LAND MUST BE PROTECTED FROM SOLAR PROJECTS

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 22 /SRNA/ – President Milorad Dodik said it was unacceptable for fertile, arable land, one of the most important resources, to be leased for the construction of solar power plants. He said he expected the Republika Srpska Government to urgently adopt legislation and implementing regulations to govern the sector.

Dodik stressed that fertile, arable land was one of Republika Srpska's most important resources and said it was unacceptable for local communities to use the powers and rights granted to them to allow such land to be destroyed and leased for solar power plants. "This is an abuse that must be stopped immediately. I expect the Government to act urgently and adopt legislation and implementing regulations to ensure that this area is comprehensively regulated," Dodik said. He added that he expected all previous decisions to be reviewed and proceedings to be initiated, with those responsible sanctioned, wherever unlawful conduct was established. "Fertile land must be restored to a condition in which it can be used for agriculture, while neglected and infertile plots can be leased for the construction of solar power plants," Dodik wrote on X.