Government To Kick-Off Illegal Home Demolitions On Dalmatian Island

The Croatian government tomorrow (Tuesday) kicks off its battle with illegally built homes when it starts the first of its series of “demolitions” on the Dalmatian island of Vir.

The Dalmatian island of Vir, located north of Zadar, is reported to have around 8,000 illegally built building projects on it, writes Vecernji list. The newspaper says that extra police presence has been requested tomorrow on the island as the demolition starts.

The Minister of Construction Anka Mrak Taritas stated that in the first phase of demolition that 10,752 illegally built projects in Croatia will be demolished. The majority of buildings to be demolished will be illegally built holiday homes near the sea, which the owners have made no effort in legalizing, despite been given till the end of last year to do so by the government.

It is not the first time the government has taken the bulldozers to Vir, in 2006 103 illegally built constructions were demolished. The report did not say how many places would be knocked down this time, but it said that out of the 8,000 illegal constructions, 4,000 had sent in requests for legalisation.