Bandić: The cantonal authorities' attitude towards the local community in the case of the 'Smiljevići' landfill is inhumane and devastating!

(Patria) - Muamer Bandić, a delegate in the KS Assembly, today sent a Conclusion to the KS Assembly, as the highest legislative body, to oblige the Ministry of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection to initiate the procedure for finding a new location for the disposal of municipal and other waste outside the urban city area and populated places of Sarajevo Canton.

The adoption of this conclusion would be only the first, but significant step in initiating a complex process of long-term resolution of the municipal waste disposal problem in Sarajevo Canton in accordance with environmental standards.

"This would reduce the public health risk and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Sarajevo, especially those living near the current landfill, who are exposed daily to unpleasant odors and health risks.

Unfortunately, the Conclusion was not accepted by the current assembly majority. So much for who is playing hidden games in the political relations within our Canton, who is solely interested in neighborhood political showdowns and petty personal interests, and who is truly working on improving the quality of life and the well-being of the citizens in our city," says Bandić.

He adds that the KS Assembly today completely ignored the demands and interests of the local community, even though the Municipality of Novi Grad has been trying for a long time to reason with higher levels of government regarding the urgency and necessity of resolving the problem of the Regional Waste Management Center (RCUO).

"What the local community is asking for is for this landfill to be gradually closed and for a new, urbanistically and ecologically acceptable location for waste disposal to be found, which the Canton persistently ignores and neglects. The attitude of the cantonal authorities towards the local community in the case of the 'Smiljevići' landfill is extremely inhumane and devastating.

The activities of the ruling structures on this issue are aimed at resolving partial legal elements of the problem, which relate to the subsequent legalization of previously undertaken actions and completed procedures. It is regrettable that the activities of the KS Government on this issue, which is essential for the health of the citizens, are limited only to post-festum actions through the introduction of illegally completed actions into the legal framework, rather than finding an ecologically and urbanistically acceptable, long-term solution to this burning problem," adds Bandić.

He further asks what about respecting the position of the local community in whose area the existing landfill exists and why the cantonal authorities persistently ignore their basic rights and interests on this issue?

"I wonder whose interest this is and why it is being done this way? Certainly not the interest of the citizens of the Municipality of Novi Grad and the citizens of Sarajevo!", adds Bandić.