The Slovak government has designated the Málinec – Látky pumped storage power plant as a significant investment, facilitating quicker approvals and perceived threats to local property rights.
The Slovak government recently acknowledged the Málinec – Látky pumped storage power plant as a significant investment, a move that will enable faster regulatory approvals and allow the state to intervene in property rights. This classification has raised concerns among local residents, particularly in Čechánky, where many are apprehensive about potential displacement due to the project. The residents express their opposition, citing fears of being forced to relocate due to the construction and operation of the power plant.
Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba presented this proposal for a special regime to fast-track the project's development just days after declining to discuss it with local inhabitants, indicating a potentially contentious approach from the government. Following this, the cabinet led by Prime Minister Robert Fico approved the proposal, which includes a 14-day timeline for the environment ministry to issue necessary certifications to the state enterprise Vodohospodárska výstavba. The significant investment status will allow the state to expedite permitting processes and potentially limit property rights of around 275 landowners impacted by the project.
The approved framework indicates that preliminary preparations for the project will likely involve field drilling, necessitating access to the affected lands. This has raised alarms among citizens about the government's commitment to respecting property rights, and the Minister's dismissal of their concerns as mere activism may escalate tensions between the authorities and the local community. The situation exemplifies a broader struggle in Slovakia regarding development projects and local rights, with the potential for significant implications for both citizens and the investment landscape in the country.
