The air is killing Kosovars

45 days within a short period of time, Pristina has noted extreme air pollution values.

Air pollution is also recorded in Obilic, Han of Elez and Drenas.

Many factors contribute to this situation, reports KTV through the weekly information store “Como”.

The main causes are thermoelectrics, multiple cars, as well as fuel, coal.

The Kosovo Energy Corporation, with its 2 thermal power plants and mines, is the main air pollutant.

The mine is constantly made of coal from which electricity is produced.

If during the day the 3 blocks of Kosovo A, and two of the Kosova B thermal power plant, KEK produces about 900 megawatts of electricity and covers 90 percent of the country's territory.

But, KEK Managing Director Njazi Thaci, says KEK is not the main pollutant in the country, as large-scale pollution has decreased with recent investments.

Therefore, Thaci suggests to all not to speak on behalf of KEK, as often statements that KEK is the biggest pollutant in the country create panic among citizens.

However, residents living in Obilic have claimed that life in this city has become difficult due to KEK air pollution.

Fuel, coal, is considered the biggest air problem.

It is used not only by KEK, but also by domestic institutions and economies.

The Krasniqi family from Obiliki is warmed with coal, as it says last year they have a considerable amount of coal left, so they will use it this year, until it is spent.

From last year, former Environment Minister Albena Resitaj had banned the sale of coal, reasoning that it affects air pollution.

While, for this year, the minister of this dictatorship, Fatmir Matoshi, has already banned the sale of coal in Pristina, and this ministry's Inspectorate has confiscated 7 coal trucks.

With this, it is intended to lower the use of coal.

Minister Matoshi has even demanded that the decision be respected that KEK workers not be allowed to sell coal.

In recent times citizens have been reaching for alternative options. On the Kosovo market has reached the diaper, a substance consisting of wood waste.

This substance is imported from Serbia, while in Kosovo its ambalisation has begun.

But even with its use, some problems have been presented.

The Environment Ministry has demanded that the Ministry of Infrastructure control the quality of the cloth imported from Serbia, after it was reportedly having cancerous content.

In a written response from the MTI Information Office, it is said that “from inspections conducted, the wooden heating cloth product is declared and accompanied by necessary technical documentation, respectively, with tests analyzed by accredited testing labs in and outside the country”.

Citizens, in panic situations where they were also recommended not to use coal, then the cloak has cancerous content, say they are using wood for heating.

According to them, many cannot afford to buy wood, since they are very expensive.

Cutting wood is most often done illegally, and selling it has degraded forests in our country.

Forest conditions are also concerned at the Pytor Inspectorate.

Besim Zogaj, director of the Central Inspection Directorate for Forest and Hunting, shows that during the past year of inspections, 489 cases have been sent to court. While, in January, 457 inspections have resulted in 473 processes.

Now even schools are starting to warm up with wood after being banned from the Ministry of Education using coal.

School maintenance “Mihal Grameno” in Fushe Kosovo, says it is very easy to maintain the furnace, as wood is not creating powder.

Another factor as important in this pollution is cars.

Already under the Automes Law, it has been proposed to remove the import limit of cars from 10 to 15 years.

This was rejected by some Kosovo Assembly deputies, with the reasoning that with the removal of this restriction, Kosovo will be transformed into a depot of old cars, which also affect environmental pollution.