Citizens sign protest petition over water reductions

In front of the Sarajevo Canton building, citizens began signing a petition, i.e. a protest call, to break the silence of the authorities and urge them to finally take urgent measures to solve the city's water supply problem.
Water supply in Sarajevo has only been worse during the siege of the city, state Eko Akcija and the civic initiative Borba za život, reports the Patria agency.

- Daily reductions have been ongoing for years due to insufficient investment in the maintenance and renewal of the water supply network, as well as the protection of existing and provision of new water sources. At the same time, reductions, as well as unhindered construction in water protection zones, also call into question the quality of the water itself.

Anes Podić from the Eko Akcija association pointed out that Sarajevo faced drought in 2000 and 2003 as well, but there was water. 

He said that the petition will be submitted to the Assembly of the Sarajevo Canton, which has 35 deputies who are not interested in solving this problem.

- The Assembly has all the authority to solve this problem, it can declare a state of emergency, mobilise equipment, people and resources... This is the wealthiest local community and if there were political will, this problem would have been solved long ago - said Podić.

He added that investment has been insufficient over the last 10 years, and over the last five it has been drastically reduced and absolutely nothing is being invested in infrastructure.

The signing of the petition will continue until the end of the week.