The old people used to say: Don't play with water, fire, and the government!

2026-01-10 15:59:00, Opinione Oerd Bylykbashi

The old people used to say: Don't play with water, fire, and the

January 2025 the first major flood in Durrës. September 2025 the second flood. January 2026 the third flood. The biggest one in memory. What is surprising is that on the day of the flood only 44 millimeters of rain fell. A very small amount.

It is true that since 2000, Durrës has been misgoverned by socialists. It is true that floods have increased in the last decade. But it has never happened that Durrës has been severely flooded three times in one year.

Three major floods within a year with a very wide spread, even though around 40 million euros have been spent on water sanitation. Completely without a plan and efficiency (except for the corrupt efficiency, which reaches 100%)

The damage and stress to residents whose homes, household goods, businesses, and vehicles are damaged by the firemen is unbearable. It is certain that this situation will continue in 2026.

The consequence: living becomes difficult and property depreciates in the area that floods so frequently.

Opposite the flooded area, it is enough to cross the entrance road to Durrës and you will find yourself in the luxurious Durrës Marina project in Alabar. It is not surprising that the development of that area will extend the interest of construction companies for construction development in the former swamp area. But there are plenty of houses there, legalized or in the process of legalization.

Under normal conditions, residents understand the increased value and would demand a higher price to sell their homes. But if the area floods 2-3 times a year and the state does not protect and compensate, then the value of the homes drops and they are sold cheaper. So the cost is reduced for construction companies with the “random and involuntary assistance” of the state that “fails to solve” the problem of flooding.

Not only that, but in 2013, after they were lied to that the legalization would be free, as soon as they took power, they were told that the legalization bill would be placed as a lien on the property registration in the Cadastre. Without paying that bill, they cannot sell the house.

So with a little pressure, offering to pay off the legalization fees and a little extra money, properties depreciated by frequent floods are bought cheaper. For those who are stubborn, the cartel's "enforcement" guys come in the evening and by dawn the property is emptied.

Then a master plan was approved with a budget of tens of millions of euros for sewerage interventions and the area became completely urbanizable. Meanwhile, the residents sold their houses cheaply.

The day before yesterday, amidst the rain and floods, a fire broke out at the used clothing market on 5 Maji in Tirana. “The fire will do its job,” said the deputy mayor of Tirana. Don’t be surprised if construction permits for modern apartment blocks are soon issued there. After all, even shepherds deliberately set fire to the forest to free up space for pasture. Fire, job done.
Water and fire with action and the state with deliberate inaction as factors that take the lives of many citizens and benefit a few in power and their partners.

Is the intentional flooding a hypothesis or a conspiracy theory? How can one build on a former swamp? Who cares? But weren't the palaces built there after the earthquake? Why has the Durrës municipality in a completely non-transparent way given away the lands in the former swamp for long-term rent and where businesses are being built? So the area of ??the former swamp, bordering the port of Arab, can be built and developed, but first it must be emptied.

The project for Durrës Marina was approved in 2019. The first buildings have taken shape, while their high prices will also increase the price in the surrounding areas.

In 2021-2022, the plan for the urban redevelopment of the former swamp area with buildings up to 8 floors was approved (with the signatures of Balluk and Sako). Only a road, about 100 meters long, separates the two areas.

"You are against development and modernity," the patronage choristers will shout in the comments. Yes, we are against corrupt and mafia-like development and in favor of legal property development.

Let's see if the investigation the prosecution has begun into the crime of "Destruction of property by flood" will find the negligence of the state or the will of the mafia gang that governs us at the head of the state. I hope it has not started to close and bury it, with Rama's conclusion: Plastic bottles and climate change are to blame.

The only solution: overthrow the government!

The old people used to say: Don't play with water, fire, and the