Sandbags are set up and dams are made with excavators to protect houses and stables against possible floods. Such is the situation today in fruitful Pelagonija after announcements of new rainfall in the region and overflow of rivers. Municipality of Novaci, which is most affected by this situation and where several hundred acres of fertile fields were flooded, is already pinpointing critical areas and sets embankments and pads with machines. A strong wind is blowing in Bitola part of Pelagonija since this morning.
– We got the announcements seriously and approached to making protective embankments, with sacks, with pads, in order to protect ourselves from possible flooding of houses and farms. You know that river Crna has already flooded and there are even damages from the overflow of the tenth channel near the village Gneotino – says Mayor of Municipality of Novices Lazar Kotevski.
Farmers and local authorities in Pelagonija are unanimous that the greatest protection against floods is the cleaning of river Crna, which has bottom sediment of a meter and a half as a result of its negligence in the past 35 years.
– We request from the Government to set aside funds for the purchase of appropriate machinery, which will clean and extend the bank of river Crna – says Kotevski.
Meanwhile, commissions to assess damage from flooding last week are expected in the Municipality of Novaci.
