Podgorica, (MINA) - The construction of a plant for the destruction of animal by-products in Niksic would be a civilizational step forward in the field of public health and environmental protection, said Minister of Agriculture Vladimir Jokovic, calling on critics to propose an alternative solution instead of opposing the project.

He said this in the Parliament, responding to question by Democratic Party of Socialists MP Aleksandra Despotovic who asked how he would solve the situation in Niksic, since the president of that municipality opposes the construction of the plant.

Jokovic said that the claims that it is a “facility for the destruction of infected animals” are incorrect and harmful to the public, and emphasized that animals that pose a risk must be disposed in a safe and harmless way.

He pointed out that there had never been plans to build the plant in Bijelo Polje, but in Mojkovac, which was abandoned after consultations with the World Bank.

Plots in Niksic are currently under consideration.

“The municipality of Niksic gave one plot and there were some reactions, mostly from those who don’t really know much about the issue”, Jokovic said, stating that the Ministry of Agriculture, in response to criticism, organized a visit to Milano for opponents of the project, to see similar plants and determine whether they are causing any harm.

“None of them had any complaint about what they saw there, and said it was fine. Then when the local elections in Niksic came, problems arose again about whether it should be built in Niksic”, Jokovic said.

He invited critics to propose alternative locations.