New Heřminovy believes that they will block the construction of the dam with a zoning plan

Nové Heřminovy (Bruntál) - The construction of a flood control dam in Nové Heřminovy in Bruntál, which is set to flood part of the village of the same name, may not begin before 2020. The local administration rejects the project, claiming it can successfully block construction at least until that time. They refer to the village's zoning plan, which does not include the reservoir. Allegedly, without it, the investor will not receive a building permit. Nevertheless, the Odra River Basin Authority plans to start construction in 2016.
    "Our zoning plan does not account for the dam. Therefore, the building authority cannot issue a zoning decision or building permit," said Radek Sijka, the mayor of Nové Heřminovy, to ČTK today. He claims that this way the municipality can block the construction until 2020. After that, they will be required to align their zoning plan with the regional one, which already includes the dam. "I assume that even then we will be able to continue successfully opposing the construction. In our opinion, we do not have to include anything in the plan that would worsen the quality of life in the community. We see it as our last weapon," the mayor stated.
    The deputy director of the Odra River Basin Authority and company spokesman, Čestmír Vlček, views the situation differently. "We are aware of this perspective. It's nothing new to us. However, we do not see it as fundamentally significant. It would indeed be ideal if the dam were included in the municipality's zoning plan. But we will still be able to build," Vlček said. He is supported in this view by an employee of the regional building authority. According to her, in such cases, the procedure should follow the zoning plan of the superior unit, which in this case is the region.
    Sijka rejects this. "I base my opinion on that of our lawyer. We assume that there can be multiple interpretations of building law. We adhere to this one," he stated. According to him and the representatives of Heřminovy, the construction of the dam is nonsensical. "As a municipality, we will also challenge the EIA process, which lacked an analysis of alternatives for flood protection. It's a pity that the ministries completely ignore the demands of local residents," he asserted.
    Employees of the Odra River Basin Authority met directly with the residents of Nové Heřminovy today. "Our goal is to inform locals about the project and mainly about the compensations we are offering," said Vlček. The water managers, for example, offer to build a sewer system or roads servicing the plots where the municipality plans to construct. The Odra River Basin Authority also wants to help obtain funds from various sources and aid in the transfer of state land to the municipality.
    "The basin authority wants to break the resistance of local people. They had previously expressed their opposition to the dam in a referendum. They are trying to create a new referendum, but it will only be heard by a few people who expect material benefits from the potential construction. The rest have no reason to agree with the dam," he stated. He added that the municipality does not intend to call for a new referendum.
    The government has already made a decision in the past regarding the construction of the dam, which will require the demolition of 54 houses, 23 of which are residential. The Odra River Basin Authority is buying up land, and the people affected are leaving the municipality. Currently, according to Vlček, 90 percent of the land has been acquired. He admits that the remaining 10 percent is owned by the municipality or residents who have so far refused to sell.
    The construction of the reservoir in Nové Heřminovy has been under discussion for several decades. It became relevant again after the catastrophic floods in Moravia and Silesia in 1997. The government ultimately chose a smaller variant. The Ministry of Agriculture anticipates costs of nearly eight billion crowns. For that amount, a dam and a new road should be built, but the price also includes various modifications to the entire riverbed.