STILL ILLEGAL: They can't even shut down a landfill, yet dream of a state!?

By: Amina Čorbo-Zećo

While political leaders of the Republika Srpska talk about sovereignty, independence and institutions that will "function without Sarajevo", citizens of East Sarajevo are choking in smoke from an illegal landfill. Along with them, residents of Sarajevo, where the air is extremely polluted today!

The Krupačke stijene landfill, owned by the public utility company Trnovo, remains active despite lacking an environmental permit.

After a temporary suspension of operations, which came only under public pressure, the landfill resumed work without proper permits, accountability, or protective measures. It is now burning, spreading toxic smoke toward settlements, while the competent authorities remain silent.

The informal citizens' group "Stop illegal waste dumping at Krupačke stijene" has been demanding an urgent response from the Republic Environmental Inspectorate and the Inspectorate of the City of East Sarajevo for months. They warn of a serious health risk to the population and demand a permanent solution, not just extinguishing the fire, but also halting the operation of the illegal landfill.

The commander of the East Sarajevo Territorial Firefighting Unit, Njegoš Vukadin, stated that such fires cannot be extinguished with water and that construction machinery is needed. And citizens rightly ask: if the institutions of the Republika Srpska cannot even resolve the landfill issue, how do they intend to run a state?

Because independence is not built on political rallies, but on basic things: the air we breathe, the water we drink, and institutions that do their job. And in the Republika Srpska, it seems, nothing is working except the flames at Krupačke stijene.