They called it a piece of pipe unique, but equally unique is the stance of the responsible institutions, making it difficult to find a "second case" to justify the imminent hygienic catastrophe in the city of Vlora. "The equipment is coming from Istanbul," said the experts, "this is a natural disaster, 15 worlds are supplying the institutions," said the mayor, "don't drink the worlds' water," declared the UKV, "I haven't washed myself either," "complained" the director of AKUK.
While the mayor of the city of Vlora speaks of a "natural disaster", the country has been experiencing clear weather for two weeks, without precipitation, frost or landslides... However, the "institutional slippages" are evident in the positions they hold regarding this unprecedented case, where in the middle of winter, drinking water has been lacking for five days throughout Vlora.
The defect in the main water distribution pipeline occurred at midnight on December 24, while attempts to repair it in time failed, blaming the problem on the "pipe that only Vlora has."
Who has it?
The fifth day of water shortages brought a "late revolt" of a few citizens who protested on Sunday evening where municipal officials had gathered for an "artistic performance", to celebrate the end of the year with music and selected performances. Also this morning, hundreds of residents demanded accountability and the resignation of the municipal leaders, while issuing accusations of theft of public funds and throwing toilet paper and eggs in protest.
"In this situation, what is most striking is not only the lack of water, but the lack of institutional clarity on responsibility," local government expert Agron Haxhimali tells Faktoje.al. Vlora Mayor Brunilda Mersini removed responsibility from the institution she heads by billing the National Water and Sewerage Agency.
"The municipality is not dependent on the water supply, the water supply has been in the hands of AKUK for two years, but it is time to manage this natural disaster," said Mersini.
"The fact that the Municipality of Vlora, together with other municipalities in the region, own 49% of the shares does not exempt them from responsibility. Participation in ownership also means an obligation to react, to inform citizens and to exert institutional pressure on the majority shareholder, although the responsibility of the municipality remains there even with the lack of a decision-making majority," suggests expert Haxhimali.
Recycled promise
Meanwhile, Faktoje was in Vlora in August and faced the same recurring problem.
At least in the last decade, mayors in Vlora have sought the vote of citizens by including drinking water supply as a program priority.
In mid-August, Faktoje.al's field verification showed that Vlora continued to have problems with the normal supply of drinking water.
The situation of recent days has only worsened the lack of a promise that has been unfulfilled for years in this city for 24-hour water.
Worlds with undrinkable water
In this distortion of attitudes and a marked lack of timely response, another problem has emerged in Vlora, both hygienic and health-related.
After three days of some residents being supplied by tankers, the Vlora Water and Sewerage Authority issued a statement. "The Vlora Region Water and Sewerage Authority informs citizens that the water they are receiving from tankers should be used for emergency needs and not for oral use," the announcement states.
To calm the citizen revolt, the General Director of the National Water Supply and Sewerage Agency, Flowers Shoshi, also tried to communicate. "I know your concern, I understand you. We have tried three times to fix the defect but we have not been able to fix it. The equipment is coming. Tonight at midnight the water supply starts. This is our word", he said, while to the citizens' statements that they cannot go to the toilet or even wash themselves due to the lack of water, he replied: "I have not been able to wash myself either".
Many institutions, little water
More than concrete solutions for water supply, "national strategies" have been trumpeted in recent years, splitting responsibility among several institutions, both central and local.
"According to the current reorganization model of the water supply and sewage sector, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy is the main shareholder, controlling 51% of the voting shares, through its structures and AKUM," says expert Haxhimali.
According to him, the main policies and the first responsibility for the functioning of the service are central. "The real problem is the built model: a service centralized in decision-making, but decentralized in blame. Municipalities remain the first address of citizen anger, while real power remains far from the cameras and public accountability," emphasizes Haxhimali.
Rama: Saliu is to blame
After four days, Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted with the old story of the reaction that Saliu (Berisha) was to blame.
"To Istanbul airport to arrive today within the day, new hydraulic parts to repair the serious defect in the Vlora water supply, where in 2009-2010, substandard hydraulic parts were installed, which could no longer hold the water pressure and as a result the pipeline exploded...
"To my fellow Vlora residents, I apologize for all this undeserved upheaval, and as our grandmothers used to say, the evil eye has finally broken after all these good years for Vlora, and whoever wishes evil for Vlora will only receive evil," Rama writes./Faktoje.al/
