Residents of Shurova and its surrounding villages are opposed to the plans to build a flood protection polder in these areas. As they say, this means the destruction of about 300 buildings and displacement of hundreds of residents. They invited Waters, the director of the branch in Kraków, Poland, to protest, but it became clear on the spot that no one was going to talk to Wojciech Kozak.
On Monday, in the Zone of economic activity at ul. Farmers and residents of the commune gathered in Pshemyslovi Shurova and protested against the construction of the reservoir. The convoy of cars passed by the provincial road number 768 at high speed, in Košice the demonstrators turned back and repeated this maneuver several times. In total, the protest lasted for about four hours. On about 200 cars, banners with the slogans “Forgiven for the inconvenience, we have explained the Polish waters”, “Pans near Shurowa” and “Polish waters, we demand respect” are hung.
Protest in SzczurowaTVN24
In the same way, local residents protested against the creation of a flood protection polder in the commune.
– The idea that Polskie Vody wants to implement would be a disaster for our commune and region. About 3,000 hectares, the displacement of more than 800 residents and the destruction of about 300 farm and residential buildings are at risk, Piotr Mikush, the organizer of the protest, says.
As the interviewer of TVN24 noted, the main task of the water reservoir will be to protect the inhabitants of Sandomierz and the province of Šveitokrzyskie. Residents of Shurova fear that their security will be in question near the polder. – Of course, we also care about the safety of these residents, but there are other options. The form proposed by Polskie Wadi is not acceptable, says Mikus.
Protest in SzczurowaTVN24
– I am the head of the village of Rzachova, which may be flooded in the future when the water rises. I protest together with the residents of my village. It is necessary to prepare 20 percent of the communes for floods, this is the plan, and what will happen in the future is not known, said the head of the village of Rzačova Jerzy Helak.
“I’m surprised the mayor is so funny”
Wojciech Kozak, director of the Regional Water Management Board in Krakow, was also present at Monday’s protest. As he said, he was ready for negotiations and was ready for dialogue. However, there were no talks – banners, sirens and shouts.
– We came today at the invitation of the residents, they asked us to come in January, the date has been fixed. So, on the part of the residents, to put it mildly, it is a big fake, and on the part of the mayor, I will put it even more clearly. Who should I submit to? – said Kozak without hiding his anger.
Protest in SzczurowaTVN24
The director of the Krakow Wód Polskie branch emphasized that the investment has not yet taken its final form and residents can influence it. – The tank can be moved, made smaller, whatever. It should not be 206 million cubic meters. It could be a 180, or maybe not to Škurowa, but to Kosice, but we need to talk first. And in these circumstances it is impossible. I’m just surprised that the mayor is so funny, said the interviewer of TVN24. He added that “negotiations can be carried out in a normal atmosphere regardless of their outcome.” Wojciech Kozak left the protest accompanied by the police.
We asked Wód Polskie how residents will be compensated for the loss of their homes and fields, and whether another location for the polder is being considered. We await your reply.
Kozak also reminded that the design of the storage reservoir is not new. It was established in 2022. – After all, those who protested signed this project, including Minister Kaczmarchik, so I cannot understand it. – The director pointed to the participation in the protest of deputy Norbert Kaczmarczyk, who was the state secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2021-2022.
Kaczmarczyk himself, in response to the question of our journalists, why he did not intervene in 2022, stated that he does not control Polish waters.
Protest in SzczurowaTVN24
The flood of 2010
Shurova was one of the communes that was affected by the flood in 2010. Then the water flooded the cities of Wola Przemykowska, Natków, Kwików and Ksieje Kopacze. Residents fought for a long time to preserve the shores of Usvica.
A huge flood, among other things, also affected Sandomierz. Houses were flooded up to the first floor, the monastery had to be evacuated and several people died. The lake, which was built inside the city, had an area of about 80 square kilometers and was visible from space.
Read Free in Premium: Rivers fill up because that’s their nature. Let’s give them the valleys, we’ll be quiet
Main photo source: TVN24
