Illegal landfill 'Krupačke stijene' reopened, citizens demand urgent action

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The Krupačke stijene landfill, owned by JKP Trnovo, has resumed operations after a temporary suspension due to public pressure over the lack of an environmental permit.

The informal citizens' group "Stop illegal waste disposal at Krupačke stijene" demands that the RS Environmental Inspection and the Environmental Inspectorate of the City of East Sarajevo react to the illegal operation of the Krupačke stijene landfill and find the best solution to protect the interests and health of the citizens.

Citizens point out that the Minister of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology, Srebrenka Golić, is also aware of the illegal operation of the landfill and the lack of an environmental permit and a program of measures, as are the Mayor of Trnovo Municipality and the environmental inspector of the City of East Sarajevo.

Namely, the minister stated at yesterday's session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska that this is a long-standing problem, adding that the landfill must undergo an adaptation process.

On the other hand, the director of JKP Trnovo stated in the media that the landfill has been reopened after a temporary suspension due to public pressure, in agreement with the inspection and the mayors of the municipalities of Trnovo, Istočna Ilidža, and Istočno Novo Sarajevo, "to avoid an ecological catastrophe," as their waste "could not be disposed of anywhere else.".

"We are aware that closing this landfill could lead to an ecological catastrophe. However, we demand that this problem, which all competent institutions are apparently aware of, be finally resolved and that a solution be found that does not endanger the health of citizens and the local community. We are satisfied that, according to the director of JKP Trnovo, waste is not being brought by trucks from the company Alba BH, and we demand that this contract be terminated. If the landfill problem is not resolved in favor of the citizens in the coming period, we will use all our civil rights to protect the interests of the affected citizens," states Vladimir Lubura, a member of the informal citizens' group "Stop illegal waste disposal at Krupačke stijene.".

We ask how it is possible for an illegal landfill to operate within official institutions and their companies, why competent institutions have not closed it, and why no one has been held accountable for violating the law. We will not give up our fight; we will demand that the Entity and City inspectorates urgently implement further legal measures.

"SUPPORT OUR FIGHT, STOP ILLEGAL WASTE DISPOSAL AT THE KRUPAČKE STIJENE LANDFILL," the citizens announced.