Today, the banks of the Lim River across multiple locations in Plav served as the gathering point for a joint action by institutions, the local community, and youth, who joined forces to contribute to the preservation of the river and send a clear message that water protection begins with each and every one of us.
The action was organized as part of the “Local Communities for Cleaner WATERS” initiative, launched and funded by the Water Administration of Montenegro, in cooperation with five Montenegrin municipalities and with the support of the “Municipalities for EU” project, on the occasion of International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Participants in the cleanup of the Lim riverbank included representatives of the Municipality of Plav, the “Plavsko jezero” Sports Fishing Club, students from the “Bećo Bašić” Mixed Secondary School (members of the eco-club), municipal utility service employees, and other participants. On certain locations where larger quantities of waste needed to be removed, heavy machinery was also deployed.
The President of the Municipality of Plav, Nihad Canović, emphasized that the preservation of the Lim River holds special significance for Plav—not only as an environmental protection issue, but also as a reflection of the local community’s attitude toward one of its most important natural resources.
“Lim is part of Plav’s identity and a natural asset that we are duty-bound to preserve. That is why it is important to see representatives of institutions, utility services, anglers, young people, and our fellow citizens gathered here today. Actions like this achieve their true purpose when they leave behind more than just a cleaned riverbank—a awareness that responsibility toward the river is daily and shared. I am particularly pleased by the participation of young people, because the future appearance of Plav depends precisely on their attitude toward nature,” Canović stated.
Water Inspector from the Water Administration, Omar Bašić, noted that the goal of such activities is not merely cleaning the riverbanks, but also raising awareness about the responsibility we all share toward rivers and the environment in which we live.
“We want to send a clear message that rivers are not waste disposal sites. Waste on the banks and in the riverbed does not only mar the appearance of our surroundings; it can also compromise water quality and the aquatic ecosystem, while posing a risk to all of us. We must be aware that river protection begins at the source, and we in Plav are that source. By protecting our sources, we protect our rivers, our environment, and ultimately, our lives. Water protection is not the task of a single institution or a single group of people—it is a shared responsibility of us all,” Bašić urged.
During the action, the banks of the Lim River were cleaned at several locations in the Plav area, including the neighborhoods of Novo Naselje and the Holy Trinity Monastery. Depending on field conditions, activities were carried out both manually and with the assistance of machinery.
The “Local Communities for Cleaner WATERS” initiative is being implemented across five Montenegrin municipalities. Following the action previously held in Nikšić and today’s in Plav, activities will be organized in the coming days in Podgorica, Kolašin, and Berane.
The goal of the initiative is to connect institutions, local self-governments, and citizens through concrete field activities, reminding everyone that preserving waterways cannot be the sole responsibility of competent services alone.
Because a clean river is not the result of a single action—it is the result of the attitude we maintain toward it every day.
