Author: Aurora Shpataj
The "Arches of Milot" bridge or otherwise known as the "Bird Bridge" is one of the oldest bridges in our country. Built in 1927 on the initiative of King Zog, the bridge is special because of the architectural style of 5 arches and has a length of 478 m. Its importance comes from the fact that this work served as one of the main roads that connected the South Albania with the North. Although the bridge has a special architectural, historical, national importance, because it has been declared a cultural monument of the first category in the district of Lezha according to the decision of the Council of Ministers, this cultural work has not been maintained.
But what is currently happening with the bridge with the "Arches of Milot", otherwise known as the bridge of King Zog?
Despite the frequent appearances of associations in defense of heritage, denunciations in the media, protests by citizens or various activists for the destruction of the King Zog bridge, it seems that all these calls have fallen on deaf ears. The lack of responsibility and failure to take measures in time by the relevant institutions have resulted in damage to one leg of the bridge. The warning that the King Zog bridge is in danger has also come from the international organization "Europa Nostra", on December 14, 2021, where he announced this work as one of the 7 most endangered monuments in Europe for 2022.
What are the factors that led to the damage of a first category monument?
Pal Trashaj, historian and resident of the area, tells who is the key factor that led to the degradation of the bridge.
"This bridge has started to be damaged since the first day of the beginning of democracy with a big rush, with a gluttony the zagorits of the river Mat were taken by various construction companies. Within 10 years, from 91 to 2001, the river level has dropped by up to 2 m. From 2001 they somehow tried to stop it, but then again after 2003-2005 and until today with a rare animality, millions and millions of m3 of gravel are taken for constructions inside and outside the country. "
Trashaj also blames the state for the destruction of the bridge. "State institutions are also located here, because the companies that have taken the highway "Milot-Kukës, Milot-Shkodër or Fushë-Krujë-Milot" collect inerts here. All the companies licensed by the state have taken billions of m3 of gravel and placed them in cars, which is absolutely not allowed because not only does the bed erode, but the ruts, since they are round in shape, have the possibility of being flattened on any highway. Therefore, the water level in the river bed has dropped. "
But he metaphorically compares the companies that erode in the Mat River with the label "vampira", where he does not forget to emphasize the lack of functioning of the state.
"The company is the state, the lack of functioning of the state is called any company name. For me, many measures should have been taken, they should have protected him. But not only have they not protected it, but the `vampires' that are eroding the bed of the Mat river are not stopped either, not a single nail has been driven. "
The state's reaction to the destruction of King Zog's bridge!
Through several official requests for information that "Sinjalizo" addressed to the Ministry of Culture, the latter clarified to us that the erosion of inerts is outside the protected area.
"We clarify that the node for the extraction of gravel, inerts is at a length of 1 km from the cultural asset object, practically outside the "protected area" of the object, but the extraction of these inerts has caused the river flow to meander towards the weakest point of the bridge, where the legs are iron structures."
However, the ministry does not deny that there is a problem in the monument of the first category and that it has delegated this problematic situation to other competent institutions, but in its answer it does not emphasize who they are.
"Institutions under the Ministry of Culture do not have the authority to interfere in a territory outside the monument and its protected area, but it has been raised as an issue in official communications with other competent institutions. In relation to the problem presented and found in this structure by various institutions such as the Water Resources Management Agency, an initiative has been taken to establish an inter-institutional group with the aim of cooperation to determine the necessary interventions in this structure. "
"Sinjalizo" also sent a request to the National Environment Agency, regarding the measures it has taken for the companies that have used the inerts near the "Bird Bridge", which clarifies that:
"We, as a sector, inspect the legality and entities that are equipped with permits for the use of river inerts given by the water resources management authorities. Referring to decision no. 1, dated 21.06.2006 of the KKU on "Reducing the use of gravel and sand in river beds", has been discontinued, the use of river inerts at a distance of 500 m from the foot of the Zog bridge, no subject has had a permit or companies for the use of inert river materials. Given the fact that we do not have entities equipped with stratification permits, we do not have information about which of the entities or companies may have caused damage to the foot of the Zog bridge, on the Mat River bed, as a result of the use of river inerts."
But even though the National Environment Agency denies the fact that there are companies that have been provided with exploitation permits, the National Inspectorate of Territory Protection shows the names of the companies.
"From the information we have and from the verifications made in the field since 2020, when the Regional Directorate of IKMT Lezhë was established, the following entities have operated in Lumin Mat with a permit for the use of inerts:
1."ANK CONSTRUCTION COMPANY" shpk (Usage area was under the Lezhë-Milot highway bridge)
2. "BARDH KONSTRUKSION" shpk (Usage Area was between the Train Bridge and the Lezhë-Milot Superstrada Bridge)
3. "SALILLARI" shpk (Usage area is between the Old Rubik Bridge and 2 km above the King Bird Bridge)"
When asked what was the period of time that these companies were provided with operating permits, IKMT answers as follows:
"The period that these entities operate is from March 2020 onwards, according to KBU Decisions, Mat. According to these decisions, the terms of the contracts are according to the terms that these entities have with the ARRSH for the construction or maintenance of roads of national importance. "
The National Environment Agency clarifies that some companies have eroded the bed of the Mat river, without a usage permit, receiving a fine as a legal measure.
"The Environmental Inspection Sector, for the year 2022, imposed 3 fines for 3 entities that were caught in flagrante delicto taking river inerts in the Fan and Mat rivers, not equipped with the relevant permit for the use of river inerts. Specifically, for the subjects "Brayden 31" shpk, "Komplexi Klodi" shpk and "Ardi&Orgito" shpk for the period September-December 2022. "
Regarding the number of fines imposed by state institutions, the historian Trashaj says:There are so few fines that if you compare it to the profit they are not called fines. "
"Sinjalizo" addressed an official request to the Water Resources Management Agency, regarding the causes that have influenced the demolition of the Bird Bridge.
"We do not have at least until today, an in-depth study of the concrete causes for the condition created at one of the legs of Zogut bridge, in the Mat river, and the "specific weight" of each factor in this condition, moreover extended over timeAMBU explains.
However, this institution, as a participant in the working group for the damage to the Zog bridge, through the answer given, gives the reasons why the King Zog bridge was damaged.
"From the activities developed, in which AMBU also participated, which are related to the damage that occurred at the foot of the bridge (processes started since 2021), it was generally concluded that the main factors identified but not officially evaluated were and are:
- The bridge has a lifespan of 95 years and in many aspects this is also the cause of its degradation;
-Lack of measures to curb the erosion problem;
-The construction of several hydropower plants that have disrupted the river's regime, as well as the non-arrival of material to replace what is removed from the river's flow (hydropower plants built before and after the 90s);
"Perhaps indiscriminate use of the river by the companies that take inerts, which has led to the phenomenon of bed erosion also appearing on the new bridges of Ruga e Kombit."
"Sinjalizo" also requested a response from the companies that have access to use the river Mat, but they have refused to respond.
Just a few days ago, via a post on the Facebook social network, the Minister of Culture Elva Margariti indicated that the technical implementation project for the emergency intervention in the Mati Bridge has been approved, where the experts who have been involved in the design of this project are from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and the National Institute of Cultural Heritage.
Asked by "Sinjalizo" about any reaction to Minister Margariti's post, Mr. Thickaj says:
"For me, this bridge was for us once, because we are talking about a bridge worth hundreds of years, we are not talking about a new bridge. If they want to make a new one, they can do it, but there is no value at all. We are talking about protecting the cultural monument of the first category. "
