Tetovo, 1 November 2023 (MIA) — The Vardar River cleanup has begun in the village of Tudence in the Municipality of Jegunovce, with cleanup crews removing construction debris, residential trash and bulk waste from the river and Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Kaja Shukova, UNDP permanent representative Armen Grigoryan, and Jegunovce Mayor Dimitar Kostadinoski overseeing the beginning of the riverbed regulation and restoration works, MIA's Tetovo correspondent reports.

Cleanup activities will cover 17.2 kilometers of the river passing through Gostivar and Jegunovce. Besides trash-prone areas, crews will tackle weeds blocking the free flow of the Vardar River. Also, 1.8 kilometers of riverbank will be reinforced as part of the river stabilization project.

Environment minister Shukova said this would help protect the local population from floods. "We know this region is vulnerable to weather events and these often have disastrous consequences for the residents of this area," she said.

UNDP's Grigoryan said managing risk was as important as disaster mitigation.

"Torrential rains caused flooding of homes and agricultural fields," he said, adding that 8,5 km of the Vardar riverbed would be rehabilitated and it would benefit 3,000 residents of Jegunovce.

The cost of the river restoration project is over 30,907,617 denars.

"The joy I feel that the Vardar riverbed is being rehabilitated is immense. This is a long-awaited, historic day for Jegunovce residents," Mayor Kostadinoski said.

"The risk of floods will be reduced to a minimum after the project is done," he added.

After the floods in Jegunovce earlier this year, the local government formed a committee to evaluate the damage and seek state compensation, the mayor pointed out. They were now awaiting approval, he said.

The project “Improving Flood Resistance in the Polog Region” is funded with over 12 million dollars from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Program. mr/