Are the spas of Bënja in Përmet being privatized? 2 million euros for bars and restaurants inside the protected natural area

Fiks Fare program has followed the Albanian government’s projects for the protected area “Bënja Thermal Waters” in Përmet in the southeast of the country, where after the failure of previous investments, the Albanian Development Fund has allocated 2 million euros to build bars and restaurants with the money of taxes.

The investigative show Fiks Fare made an observation in the tourist area, where several projects have been implemented to date, but the investments were left half-finished. Fiks Fare’s camera filmed destroyed river defenses, potholed roads, abandoned buildings and old thermal water baths that were built before the 1990s.
The Albanian Development Fund made several tenders, where the implementation of the works leaves much to be desired. The previous works cost 200 thousand euros, but the photos of the project’s promotion change like night and day with those of its implementation. This money went to waste, as the agency has just finalized another tender, with a large value, to build “buildings, additional structures for meeting the need for accommodation needs, stalls for the display of local products, platform for events, restaurant, bar, etc.” A restaurant will be built above the Langarica River, within the Protected Area.
Fiks Fare traveled to the Protected Area “Thermal Waters of Bênja” in Përmet, where there are 6 baths with thermal waters. In fact, there is also “Ura e Kadiut”, a cultural monument, as well as Kenioni i Langarica, a natural monument. Some time ago, the Albanian Development Fund did a rehabilitation project, erecting several wooden structures. Journalists spoke with the employee who maintains those structures, who says that so far no one manages them.
“The project is not over yet. I know that the World Bank financed it. I only supervise that these as tourists try to enter. Now the first thing should be some second project to bring water, because there is no water. You see me, i’m using a container! The parking is done, a beam for the tickets will also be installed”, says the employee.
Fiks Fare has learned that the project started in 2016, but after 7 years, it is still not finished. Fragmented investments, once the project was wrong, problems with ownership, with Funds from the World Bank. Only wooden structures were built, but they are not functional. None of them are open. The employee says that tourists litër in the environment by walking around with shovels.
“The whole problem is that these were done with subcontractors. The number one problem is that the tourist comes and wanders around with a shovel in his hand, because there are no toilets! Do a little math, all these campers, where do they throw their waste?! The shepherds complain that our goats slide while grazing. In the river they don’t dare that as it came out “protected. Tourists don’t mind at all. Some of these stay for 1 week” he says.
A few months ago, Fiksi received information from the Albanian Development Fund that the project is financially supported by the World Bank. The agreement was signed on December 13, 2016. In the framework of this project, several interventions are foreseen for the “Bênja Thermal Waters”. Due to expropriations, social issues or the use of asphalt, the project was reduced to only areas that are public property.
Meanwhile, the Albanian Development Fund has finalized in recent days another tender with the object “integrated intervention for strengthening the tourist potential in natural areas, Region 4: Bênja – International Tourist Destination”, with a limited fund of 209 million ALL.
Fiks Fare browsed the accompanying documents, which detail the works to be carried out, bars, restaurants and picnic areas will be built throughout the Protected Area.
“The design of a restaurant and bar structure is necessary for the functioning of this national destination. The proposed facility is located along a road accessible by vehicles. The structure is thought to be of wood, in harmony with the area, and is placed on a platform that protrudes over the river, which will serve as a place for vacationers to enjoy the beauty of this area,” the documents state.
Meanwhile the restaurant will be built on the Langarica River, within a protected area. The project even has photos of the bar and restaurant, where it is expected that the entire area of ​​the thermal spas will be transformed into an urban area.

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