a minute agoAir pollution stock: Magic wand problem not solved
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)Environment Minister Albena Resiti has reacted to alarming environmental pollution figures in Pristina. She has said she too is concerned with this situation, but has given no quick solution to how to stop the capital's pollution. It has listed several actions whose effect is still in years. He said [...]
Environment Minister Albena Resiti has reacted to alarming environmental pollution figures in Pristina. She has said she too is concerned with this situation, but has given no quick solution to how to stop the capital's pollution. It has listed several actions whose effect is still in years. He has said that in the coming days there will be other activities to reduce Pristina's pollution.
Therefore honored citizens, you expert and critical of the situation, I welcome your commitment to reducing air pollution, reducing car use, using heat coal, and making your contribution concrete to reducing air pollution”, wrote Resitij, who is visiting Estonia.
She has written that the problem has been discussed with Shpend Ahmeti and agreed to stop using cars in several Pristina neighbourhoods, as well as to make free public transportation. But even this step has not yet been taken.
And we agreed that in times when we've exceeded major air pollution rates, to reduce the flow of cars in some neighborhoods by making free public transportation, which I hope will soon be realised”, the minister who is abroad wrote,
Full response:
Dear citizens, share with you concerns about increasing air pollution levels these days in our capital.
Since the first day of my work at the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, I have been working hard to find professional ways to reduce air pollution.
Within the first month I created the task plan to reduce air pollution group, I've asked field experts to bring in information about the situation and possible alternatives to its real-time improvement.
You all know things don't work out with magic sticks, much less in our country where problems are expensive and inherited.
In the past, the reality of air pollution has also been exposed. We do not deny it; rather, we pose and fight to make it a priority both institutional and social.
In all other parts of Kosovo, the best air situation prevails. In our overloaded capital and district, there has been an alarming state of high air pollution values, but never has air pollution been a priority of government, yet never since postwar has been followed by inter-institute communication of responsible and environmental protection.
We met at a joint table all the ministers on the line, drafted the activity plan in phases, identified the biggest pollutors, visited KEK, and asked for stricter controls and fines from the Inspectorate for all who pollute air.
We inherited a law on air protection from the pollution that had vacuums and was uncompliable, and we are now in the phase of adopting the new law, which will regulate air pollution sectors, including the use of fuels as air polluting.
Given that besides KEK, car factories, air pollution is coming from the use of heat coal, we asked that government agencies work on finding alternative heating and start reducing coal use.
I know the use of coal is lower, but sometimes I've said it and I'm underlining again that the cost of healing from diseases resulting from air pollution is much higher.
To coordinate our actions, we also met with Pristina Mayor Mr. Shpend Ahmeti.
We agreed that in times when we have major air pollution rates, we can reduce the flow of cars in some neighborhoods by making free public transportation, which I hope will soon be realised.
The many cars, KEK, the use of coal (even tires) for heating, unimpressive weather conditions, are the main factors in air pollution.
We need to work hard and consistently, not only when we face the situation, but to create a awareness that our commitment as institutions and societies and application of the environmental protection strategy is permanent.
To have improved air pollution, we have asked relevant institutions to realise their legal responsibilities, some of which have already begun concrete measures.
1. The implementation of Administrative Guides that imposes the Ministry of Infrastructure not to allow the registration of cars exceeding the allowed air download rates;
2. Quality control of oil derivatives imported to Kosovo;
3. The building of the inner ring of the capital, and the moving of the state administration into Heval;
4. Enhancing the system;
5. Construction of the “New Kosovo plant, with the latest tech filters at my request;
6. Creating new green areas and so on.
All these measures will affect reducing air pollution.
Therefore honored citizens, you expert and critical of the situation, I welcome your commitment to reducing air pollution, reducing car use, using coal for heating, and making your contribution concrete to reducing air pollution.
