Government meets in Gunja, reports submitted on reconstruction in flood-hit area

The minister said that so far around HRK 320 million had been spent for the reconstruction and repair of public buildings and private houses in the flood-hit region and that another 100 million would be needed to complete the process. 

In the Croatian Posavina region at Zupanja, hit by catastrophic floods last spring, 2,162 houses have been included in the government's reconstruction programme and 1,557 have been rebuilt or repaired to date, while 611 are being rebuilt or repaired, Construction and Physical Planning Minister Anka Mrak Taritas said on Wednesday while submitting a report on reconstruction in that area at a government session held in the eastern municipality of Gunja, which was also hit by last year's floods.

Mrak Taritas said that of the 511 houses that were being rebuilt or repaired by the state, 301 were being repaired and 210 were being built anew because damage caused to them was too extensive.

The minister said that so far around HRK 320 million had been spent for the reconstruction and repair of public buildings and private houses in the flood-hit region and that another 100 million would be needed to complete the process. According to her previous announcements, the reconstruction process is expected to be completed by August 15.

Agriculture Minister Tihomir Jakovina said that of a total of 18,923 hectares of farmland in Gunja, Vrbanja and Drenovci, 7,854 (41.51%) had been flooded. A total of 672 agricultural producers in that area have been given financial assistance amounting to HRK 37.59 million, said Jakovina.

During the flood, around 11,000 head of cattle were evacuated to 400 farms in Vukovar and Osijek counties. More than 11,500 head of cattle drowned and 268 tonnes of carcases had to be removed, said the minister.

Jakovina added that the Sava embankment in the flood-struck area had been repaired, including the site of ruptures at Racinovci and Rajevo Selo, that the embankment was functioning and capable of withstanding high water levels.

The reconstruction of water supply infrastructure in the flood-hit area cost HRK 114.53 million, he said.

Submitting a report on the repair of transport infrastructure, Transport Minister Sinisa Hajdas Doncic said that HRK 5.67 million had been invested so far in the reconstruction and repair of local roads, not including VAT. A total of 106 kilometres of roads need to be repaired, he said, adding that the railroad between Vinkovci and Gunja had been repaired as well.

Social Policy and Youth Minister Milanka Opacic said that her ministry had joined in a drive to collect humanitarian aid for the flood victims, which citizens initially brought to the ministry's offices and the Zagreb Trade Fair Centre, from where 120 trucks with humanitarian aid were dispatched to the flood-hit area.

Opacic said that psychosocial assistance to the flood victims had started immediately after the disaster and that it was still being provided, as well as that HRK 2.5 million worth of one-off grants had been given to the victims.

Temporary accommodation was provided for 1,000 people at several locations. A total of 640 people found accommodation in five container house settlements in the flood-hit area and half of them have already returned to their rebuilt homes, said Opacic.

Health Minister Sinisa Varga spoke of measures taken to ensure public health, commending cooperation with Bosnian authorities in preventing a mosquito invasion. He noted that a modern health care centre had been built in Gunja.

Defence Minister Ante Kotromanovic said that the army had been actively involved in providing assistance in the flood-hit area from the first day. Army members prepared and distributed 65,618 meals for the flood victims at five locations in Gunja and Drenovci and Croatian Air Force helicopters transported around 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid. The army also built a bridge at Racinovci, said Kotromanovic.

Addressing the government ministers, Gunja municipal head Hrvoje Lucic expressed satisfaction with the reconstruction process, saying that the government had done a lot for Gunja and other flood-hit communities.

He called on the government to help revive Gunja's economy and create jobs for local residents.

Lucic urged Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Branko Grcic to receive him for talks on activating the business zone Velebit in Gunja.

Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said that the government was doing its best to improve the economic situation in the country, including the flood-hit Posavina region.

(Text and photo: Hina)

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