AGREEMENT ON MOTORWAY CROSSING GACKA VALLEY REACHED

OTOCAC, Nov 20 (Hina) - The section of a motorway linking Zagreb and southern Croatia, which runs through the Gacka Valley, will be based on the so-called modified variant B and in keeping with ecological and economic criteria, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Otocac on Tuesday. The variant B is DM108 million more expensive than the most cost- efficient variant A, and will cost DM342 million. It is 28.4 km long, 3.9 km shorter than the previously proposed one. The decision on the route was made by the government's motorway commission today. Representatives of the government and local officials are satisfied, whereas ecological associations are only "partially" satisfied. The highest ecological standards will be respected in the construction in order to preserve the beauty of the Gacka Valley for future generations, Racan said. He is satisfied with the cooperation with local bodies of authority and representatives of ecological associations. The latter are satisfied with the route only in part owing to concern that it will come too close to the river Gacka near the village of Licko Lesce. It is, however, believed things might be amended as much as possible through cooperation in the drawing up of so-called micro-locations. (hina) ha sb