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Activists: Alternative to Pipeline Across Zitny Ostrov Exists
Friday 05 February 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, February 5 (TASR) - Activists say there is an alternative to the planned crude oil pipeline project traversing the Zitny Ostrov area, a river island in south-western Slovakia that features extensive water reservoirs.
According to Miroslav Dragun from the 'Nie ropovodu' (No to Oil Pipeline) civic initiative, the pipeline could go via the Zahorie area in western part of the country, continuing across the eastern corner of the Czech Republic, from where it could head toward Austria. "In this case what could be problematic, however, is the fact that the pipeline would then have to go across Donau-Aue National Park on the Austrian side," Dragun said at a news conference on Friday.
Although Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek spoke about "several alternatives" for the pipeline corridor, this one hasn't yet been mentioned, noted Dragun. "However, those alternatives (that Jahnatek spoke about - ed. note) differ only in technical solutions - not in terms of the corridor," pointed out Dragun.
"The Economy Ministry won't do anything that would be viewed as being directed against Slovak citizens and the environment they live in," ministry spokesman Branislav Zvara said in response to Dragun. Zvara underlined that no decision has been made to date as to which corridor the pipeline will use.
According to Bratislava Waterworks Company spokesman Zenon Mikle, the state-owned company, too, is opposed to the idea of having the pipeline go across Zitny Ostrov, which is also noted for its waterfowl and ecological profile.
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