"Our public beach is disappearing", businessman in Pogradec opposes privatization of lakeside spaces

2026-06-18 09:42:00, Qyteti im CNA

"Our public beach is disappearing", businessman in Pogradec opposes

Public beaches in Pogradec are once again at the center of debate. Dritan Hoxha, administrator of the “Sherlock” business, raises concerns about what he describes as the occupation and transfer of public spaces to private use. Hoxha says that the area where his business is located has been a space used by citizens for years, where he has also installed a volleyball net for young people, offering them a free entertainment and sports activity opportunity.

According to him, it was announced today that this space will be converted into a private beach station and that he has also been asked to remove the volleyball net.

" My name is Dritan Hoxha. I am the administrator of 'Sherlock', a business that I run together with my wife. We are both well educated, with a vision to bring something to our city of Pogradec, something that unfortunately is not happening. Today we were informed that public beaches have become private again in Pogradec. The area where we are here is a public beach, a beach that belongs to the city. Here I have set up a volleyball net for years, where young people play volleyball in the morning and afternoon. It has become an attractive place for our city. We have chosen a sport that we practice and we have set up the volleyball net to give people the opportunity to play. We also have umbrellas, which are umbrellas for the public beach. Today I am informed that the public beach in Pogradec is only here ," he says.

Pointing to the space that, according to him, has remained free for citizens, Hoxha says that in a length of about two kilometers of coastline, the public part has been reduced to just a few meters.

" One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven. Eleven meters of public beach on two kilometers of beach. Today I was notified that I also have to remove the volleyball net, because the beach passes through private. I have nothing against private people. The problem is that three permits have been issued here for beach stations and beach bars, which in my opinion is contrary to the law ," said Hoxha.

Hoxha states that he has filed complaints with the responsible institutions regarding this issue, requesting verification of procedures and review of decisions.

" I have filed an administrative complaint with the National Coastal Agency, I have filed an administrative complaint with 'Denonco Korrupsionin', I have filed an administrative complaint with the Prefect of Korça. I hope to receive a positive response. Protect Pogradec, because a massacre is taking place. I do not know who issued the permits. The municipality says that we did not issue them, the National Coastal Agency says that we did not issue them. Meanwhile, here we also have people who obtain permits for beach bars ," says the administrator of "Sherlock".

He also raises allegations about the involvement of persons connected to local institutions, demanding transparency on the manner in which authorizations were granted.

" We have municipal directors who get permits for beach bars, we have heirs who get permits for beach bars and other people who get permits. I don't know what's happening in Pogradec with so few public beaches and everyone is jumping in to take this space. There are only 11 meters of public beach. This is worrying ," said Hoxha.

Hoxha explains that the volleyball net was installed privately by him, but is used free of charge by citizens and that its installation was an initiative to create a sports space on the shore of the lake.

"The net is private, I have it entrusted to me by Professor Llazi Gërxhalli, who loves this sport with all his heart. I have privately placed it on a public beach so that people can play for free. Today I will remove it, I am obliged, because the other person has come here and is asking for the place to be vacated ," he said.

Finally, he appeals to the Municipality of Pogradec and the National Coastal Agency to review decisions on coastal areas.

" The Municipality of Pogradec should review its decisions. The National Coastal Agency, review its decisions. You are taking Pogradec's breath away with this action. It is a masquerade that is taking place here, it is a shame ," he declared.

According to an official communication from the Tax Directorate of the Municipality of Pogradec, the map of approved beaches includes 3 public plots and 3 private plots, while there are no changes in their surfaces compared to last year. As for permits for beach stations, they are approved by the National Coastal Agency and it is not the Municipality that determines or grants permits to tourist operators./CNA