Hněvotín will file a lawsuit against the Olomouc Region due to land acquisition

Hněvotín - The municipality of Hněvotín will file an administrative lawsuit against the Olomouc Region due to the planned takeover of nearly forty hectares of arable land for the construction of a biomedical center and the operation of various services in close proximity to the municipality. The filing of the lawsuit was approved by the Hněvotín council. Hněvotín's mayor Jaroslav Dvořák told ČTK today. The takeover of agricultural land for the expansion of the technological center near Hněvotín was allowed by the regional council's decision in September, which approved the update of the principles of territorial development for the Olomouc Region.

Hněvotín has long disagreed with the intention of the biomedical center, as the project plans to build large halls on agricultural land in close proximity to the village. The leadership of Hněvotín is also concerned that the development of such a large area would threaten the sources of drinking water in the municipality, as underground water flows from this area into the village and supplies local wells.

However, Hněvotín will have to incorporate the update of the principles of territorial development approved by the regional council into its territorial plan. "The council of the municipality of Hněvotín disagrees with the resolution of the Olomouc Region council and authorized the mayor to file an administrative lawsuit against the regional office," Dvořák stated. This week, the municipality will select a law firm to prepare the lawsuit against the regional government. "Three law firms are competing for it," Dvořák pointed out.

Eva Knajblová, spokesperson for the Olomouc Region, told ČTK today that the regional government currently does not have more detailed information about the planned lawsuit from Hněvotín. "However, it is entirely the legitimate right of the municipality to proceed in this manner," she stated.

In September, regional officials recommended that the representatives reject Hněvotín's objections to the takeover of agricultural land for the construction of the technological center, as the regional office is bound by last year's agreement between the Ministry for Regional Development and the Ministry of the Environment regarding this strategic area, which allows for the takeover of up to 44 hectares of land in the public interest.

According to Mladá fronta Dnes, years ago, Palacký University, the Olomouc University Hospital, the CzechInvest agency, the MedChemBio cluster, and the development company Gemo signed a memorandum regarding the construction of the biomedical center. Councilor Petr Daněk (ProOlomouc) read a letter from UP rector Jaroslav Miller during the council meeting, who responded to his inquiry that UP is not involved in the preparation of the project and does not plan to be.

Opposition councilor and former Minister of Agriculture Marian Jurečka (Coalition for Olomouc Region) pointed out that the law allows for the official conversion of quality land to an industrial area only if the public interest significantly outweighs the protection of the agricultural land fund. "I don’t see the public interest here; I see an interest in accommodating a few investors," Jurečka noted, claiming that investors could use other available areas in the Olomouc Region without taking up quality land.