Coșnița referendum: About 96% vote against mining operations
The majority of residents in Coșnița commune, Dubăsari district, voted to prohibit changes in land use for mineral resource exploitation.
According to preliminary results from the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), 1,466 voters, or 95.69% of referendum participants, voted "YES," while 66 (4.31%) voted "NO."
The local referendum took place on June 21 in the commune of Coșnita, which includes the village of Pohrebea. Citizens were called to the polls to decide whether they supported a ban on changing the designated use of land within the administrative boundaries of the commune, specifically for the purpose of exploiting mineral resources within less than one kilometer from the built-up areas of both localities.
The initiative to consult the locals was launched by the Coșnita Communal Council, driven by concerns regarding the use of land outside the built-up area for mineral resource exploitation.
The topic sparked intense debate within the community after an investor announced plans to develop a sand quarry on a plot of land measuring over 10 hectares at the entrance to the village of Coșnița. This project divided the residents into two groups. Some villagers expressed concerns about potential environmental impacts and the impact on the quality of life in the locality. Conversely, the investor asserted that he possessed all the necessary documents and authorizations for the project, with estimated investments exceeding 20 million lei.
The dispute over land exploitation has been ongoing for quite some time. Last year, the Local Council rejected the proposal to change the land's designated use for the quarry. Subsequently, the company interested in the project contested the decision in court and prevailed. Following the court ruling, local authorities convened an extraordinary meeting to reexamine the issue and decided to organize a local referendum.
According to electoral legislation, a decision is deemed adopted by a local referendum if it receives support from a majority of citizens participating in the vote.
The CEC notes that the published results are preliminary and must be confirmed upon receipt of the original documents from the lower electoral bodies.
