Communal infrastructure in the Bair settlement in Valjevo improved with the support of the EU

With the support of the European Union (EU) extended through the EU PRO programme the communal infrastructure in the Bair settlement in Valjevo has been improved thus contributing to the quality of life of the population in this central and one of the oldest parts of the city.

"As part of the project, the existing sewerage network was reconstructed and a new 636-meter long one was built in six streets in the Roma settlement of Bair. In addition all streets were asphalted, except for Bobovčeva Street that retained its old appearance as citizens requested," said the Mayor of Valjevo, Lazar Gojković while thanking the European Union for the financial support of 150,000 Euros, while the City of Valjevo participated with almost 85,000 Euros.

"Our goal is to make every settlement on the territory of the city better arranged, safer and a better place to live," stated the Valjevo Mayor.

"Through the EU PRO programme, the European Union supports the overall socio-economic development in 99 local self-governments, including the City of Valjevo, and the support is, among other things, aimed at improving the local social infrastructure so that the population live better. In Valjevo, the citizens of this settlement, in addition to the improved communal infrastructure, will have better communal services, too", said Dragana Novaković, the infrastructure sector manager in the EU PRO programme. She added that it was important that the project would improve wastewater management as it would be redirected from this settlement to the treatment plant and therefore contribute to better protection of the environment.

Dragana Novaković has pointed out that all local infrastructure projects financed by the European Union through the EU PRO are accompanied by complementary activities related to the implementation of the good governance principles, which are carried out in cooperation with the Swiss PRO programme supported by the Swiss Government. Thus, the management and maintenance of the constructed sewage system in the settlement of Bair will be entrusted to the Public Utility Company (PUC) "Vodovod" Valjevo, and all rights and obligations will be regulated in more detail by the accompanying contract. Additionally, the criteria for subsidising users for connection to the sewerage network are considered.