The construction of the D4 highway stretch between Jarovce-Ivanka pri Dunaji North near the capital, which will form a bypass around Bratislava, is set to be built partly on the Natura 2000 protected area of Dunajské luhy (Danube Floodplain Meads), the government confirmed at its October 29 session.
Referring to an analysis, the Environment Ministry argued that no other route would have a less negative impact on the environment, claiming that the estimated negative impact on the territory in question can be compensated for by a series of measures that are expected to cost nearly €9.7 million. This amount includes the cost of implementing the measures along with subsequent maintenance and is due to be covered by the National Highway Company (NDS).
Among the measures are the planting of new forests to replace the trees that would be felled and the planting of new grassland to make up for areas that would have to make way for the highway. The affected territory lies in the vicinity of an imaginary line drawn between Bratislava’s borough of Jarovce and the southeastern part of the Slovnaft industrial area, the TASR newswire wrote. The proposed compensation measures aim to ensure that all conditions are in place for preserving populations of black kites, white-tailed eagles and black storks.
(Source: TASR, SITA)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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