In 2009 Hani i Elezit Municipality started drafting the Municipal Development Plan and Urban Development Plan. The process is supported by MuSPP2 funded by Sida and implemented by UN HABITAT.  Substantial progress has been made in developing the plans with a draft MDP open for public review. In October 2010, the law on Strategic Environmental Assessment was approved by the Parliament of Kosovo. The draft MDP was finished prior to the approval of the Law, however the Municipality of Hani i Elezit decided to undertake an SEA report in response to the law.  Hani i Elezit will be a test   case since it is the first time such a report is being done, this was emphasized in a meeting with MESP and the experience gained will be applied to other municipalities’ plans.  

The scoping report was drafted in December 2010 and finalized in January 2011 in cooperation with Municipal and MuSPP officers (planning team) of Hani i Elezit.

The launch of public discussion on MDP Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) was on Thursday 10th of March 2011 at Municipal Assembly Hall which included representatives of civil society, municipal assembly, REC and MuSPP staff.  The aim was to present the process for drafting the SEA report and findings as well as to collect ideas and opinions from relevant institutions and concerned public.

The adviser of the major and the moderator, Mr. Mallzum Qajani in his opening remarks, thanked UN-HABITAT for the support given to the drafting of development plans and SEA’s. “It is important for residents of Hani i Elezit and municipal institutions, to fully understand the impacts of the Municipal Development Plan proposals on the environment as well as measures to mitigate the impacts” Mr Qajani went further to note that Hani i Elezit has many environment issues.

The meeting continued with the speech from Mr. Muzafer Dernjani, Deputy Mayor of Hani i Elezit and Mr. Ishaku Maitumbi, Officer in Charge of UN-HABITAT who emphasized the good cooperation between Municipality and UN-HABITAT, with progress visible every time he is in Hani i Elezit.

Mr. Durim Dernjani, a Municipal Officer in HiE, presented the SEA report and emphasized that this document is an integral part of MDP and encouraged all the citizens to give their comments at the meeting or in the next 30 days of public review period. REC representatives asked for some clarifications with regards to the meaning of document and expressed their willingness for closer cooperation with Hani i Elezit. This was welcomed by the municipal representatives of Hani i Elezit. In latter part of the discussion, a clear explanation given on how both documents (draft MDP and draft SEA report) will be sent to MESP for consent and finally approved by the municipal Assembly of Hani i Elezit HiE.