Alert LIFTED in Sarajevo Canton, WARNING declared: Minimise outdoor movement

The Operational Staff for the implementation of the Plan of intervention measures in cases of excessive air pollution in the Sarajevo Canton area today lifted the third episode ALERT and declared the second episode WARNING, announced the Government of the Sarajevo Canton, Patria reports. 

According to the updated Plan of intervention measures in cases of excessive pollution in the Sarajevo Canton from 2014, the Operational Staff within this episode orders:

Recommendation that classes in schools be limited until 5:00 PM during the day, with students staying in school premises during breaks, and that school yards not be used and extracurricular activities be suspended during this episode;

Restrictions on the operation of thermal energy production plants with a capacity over 50 kW that use solid fuels and heating oil, in terms of reducing the temperature by at least 3 degrees, changing energy sources for heat production to more environmentally acceptable ones, in accordance with available possibilities, limiting the number of working hours or in another way, with enhanced inspection supervision;

Warning that all thermal energy production plants with a capacity over 1 MW that use natural gas reduce the temperature in the spaces they heat by at least 2 degrees;

Ensuring the flow of motor vehicles without prolonged stops at major city intersections with the highest measured concentrations of pollutants, by changing the signal plan of traffic-light-controlled intersections on the main city road from Baščaršija to Ilidža, which would affect the duration of the "green wave";

Use of means for suppressing PM10 dust particles by utility companies and other legal entities performing winter road maintenance;

Prohibition of performing rough construction works outdoors and indoors;

Other measures that the Operational Staff assesses may contribute to improving air quality.

Along with these measures and recommendations, all measures from the previously declared FIRST EPISODE READINESS of December 7, 2016, remain in effect.

At today's meeting, reports were presented by representatives of the Expert Body for Coordination and Supervision, the Ministry of Interior of the Sarajevo Canton, the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute, the Institute for Public Health of the Sarajevo Canton, and the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs.

Inspection representatives pointed out that over the past two days, the implementation of measures related to the prohibition of rough construction works and thermal energy production plants, both those using solid fuels and those powered by natural gas, has been intensively controlled. They added that no significant number of reports to the eco-phone 122 were recorded, and that the negligible number that were received proved unfounded. It was also emphasized that the Inspection continues intensive supervision of the implementation of these measures.

Members of the Expert Body for Coordination and Supervision today, in accordance with the updated Plan of measures, prepared a Report in which it was established that the ALERT threshold for PM10 for yesterday was exceeded only at the Vijećnica measuring station at 410 µg/m3, while at other stations values below the ALERT threshold were recorded, namely: Ilidža 374.6 µg/m3 and Otoka 309.6 µg/m3. In addition, the meteorological situation indicates a change in weather conditions in the form of precipitation accompanied by light wind.

Bearing in mind the measures from the WARNING episode, an appeal was again made to the citizens of the Sarajevo Canton to minimise their movement and time spent outdoors during this period, with this particularly referring to vulnerable categories - pregnant women, children, the elderly, and chronic patients.

The Operational Staff will continue to monitor the development of the situation in the coming days and will timely inform the public of all changes, both regarding the state of air quality and its impact on the health of the population of the Sarajevo Canton.