Zenica: The announcement of the lawsuit due to air pollution
Air pollution in Zenica for years exceeds the permitted level. Local authorities announced a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, due to the issuance of the environmental permit Arcelor Mittal Zenica, the largest steel producer in the world.
Meanwhile, experts warn of a link between air pollution and the number of patients from Zenica.
Several active chimney Arcelor Mittal periodically emitted yellow smoke that made the residents of nearby settlements Tetovo particularly worried.
Alexander said that for four years treated, has respiratory problems suspected to be caused by contaminated air.
"I have chronic pneumonia, sarcoidosis and chronic bronchitis," said Aleksandar Jaksic, a resident of the village of Tetovo.
The village has a primary school. In contrast to the carefree children, their parents were frightened. Amra Ahmetagić said that her daughter be more frequent doctor.
"She had an allergy which lasted six months. I doubt that all of the air, "said Ahmetagić.
Direct impact on health
Information about the direct impact of air pollution on the health of Zenica does not exist, but there are analyzes.
According to one, whenever you increase the air pollution in the city, in the same period, increases in the number of prescribed therapy for children. Doctor Harun Drljević of the NGO Eko Forum says that the consequences of serious and elderly ones.
"The growth of malignant disease is evident there, but we do not know yet how many are related to the effects of pollution," says Drljević.
The amount of sulfur dioxide in the air in Zenica, on a yearly average, two and a half times higher than allowed.
Local authorities announced a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry issued the environmental permit Arcelor Mittal. Professor Šefket Goletić, which represents them, says to seek a permit for the plants of Mittal or to be issued annually with the opinions and plans.
"One possible solution: if it is cheaper to achieve air quality by solving the local boiler room, the abolition of coal as a fuel in households and local boiler rooms, then let's all to finance. When I say everyone, I mean here that it should participate and Arcelor Mittal, because it aims to improve air quality, "said Šefket Goletićsa the Department of Engineering of the University of Zenica.
Willingness to cooperate
The company ArcelorMittal say they are willing to cooperate, but that the city administration should define a strategy for heating the city. They add that at the time applied for the environmental permits for the seven plants, but that they are still waiting.
"What is important to note is that the uncertainty in not having, not issue a new environmental permits obstacle the company to make the correct its strategy for the future," the MIRSA dozen, Director for relations with state institutions Arcelor Mittal Zenica.
"The Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism could not comment on the announcement of the local authorities of Zenica to sue them because of environmental permitting Arcelor Mittal. They say that the officer who worked on the issuance of these permits in the meantime retired, and that his colleagues will be familiar with the details of the license in the coming days, "according to Al Jazeera's Emir Skenderagic.
For Arcelor Mittal recall that so far invested over 45 million euros in projects defined in environmental permits, and another 10 million on its own initiative. Investments mean jobs on one side and the polluted air on the other hand, placed in front of Zenica always the same dilemma. Help in her dismissal, now expect the entity level.
- 11 Dec, 2015
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