The village of Bubq in the municipality of Kruja was one of the hardest hit areas after the powerful earthquake in Albania on November 26 last year, but a new development plan is set to turn the area into a modern centre with a higher-quality and much better organized infrastructure than the one prior the devastating quake. Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Culture, Elva Margariti, the Minister of State for the Reconstruction, Arben Ahmetaj, and the Mayor of Kruja, Artur Bushi, inspected the site that will host the reconstruction projects in Bubq due to kick off in late June or early July.
“The area at the entrance of Bubq village will transform into a urban area with police service, post office and healthcare center, whereas the market and community service buildings will be built on the other side of the village. This will be the new administrative centre. A local market will also be built, providing farmers access and allowing them to bring their locally-grown produce to the market,” Culture Minister Margariti said. The school building that was badly damaged by the earthquake has been already demolished and a new school will be built as an integrated part of the entire reconstruction project.
“The local high school, due to be built, will also serve as community centres. The school will also house the primary education. The school area has been integrated with the mandatory local development plan. It will also include outdoor and indoor gyms and sports grounds. The school becomes a space developing a new partnership of teacher-family-community, with local residents being provided the opportunity to bring their children to school in the afternoon hours to spend more time in library and other school spaces,” Culture Minister said.
With the new urban centre due to be built under the reconstruction program, children will be provided more recreational spaces. Kruja Mayor noted that more than 250 families will benefit thanks to this project. Culture Minister on her part said that “all these previously unlinked pieces will come together to create a new residential neighbourhood, not only to house quake-affected residents in the area, but also develop the model we have mentioned earlier, with the local residents living in more concentrated residential neighbourhoods so that they can expand their agricultural land and with the new local market they improve household economy. Their market could also attract more farmers and buyers from other surrounding towns.”
The Minister for the Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj informed that local government authorities will complete the final assessment and the list of DS1 and DS4 beneficiaries. On his part, the Premier confirmed once again his government commitment to deliver on the pledge to construct all individual homes, whereas works will start soon to reconstruct all quake-hit areas.
“We will build all homes and construction works will begin here and other affected areas, but a little more patience is all it takes and everything will be just like we have already promised,” PM Rama said.
