Situation escalated in August–September 2019 when further investors wanted to build micro hydros on Temštica. Villagers from the river valley, which is part of the protected natural reserve, organized 24-hour watches to prevent construction of the new objects. They were supported by the volunteers from other parts of Serbia, and members of the environmental organizations. They proclaimed the "official declaration of war for Stara Planina". The protests included peaceful, passive resistance, but also some violent outbursts which included physical altercation with investors and their private security, damages to the equipment caused by fires and intervention by the police. As reported by numerous media, the investors tend to build the objects even without all the necessary (or positive) permits and though they apply with projects of watermill hydro plants, which include mini reservoirs and constant flow of the streams, in the end they just conduct water into the pipes, drying the rivers out completely. The reason is huge profit - state is obliged to buy all their electricity at the prices at least doubled from the commercial price for the buyers. Because of that, each electricity bill for every consumer is enlarged with the obligatory item for the owners of the "alternative electrical power", despite minimal output of micro hydros in total electricity production.