Minister responds to protesters demands over illegal landfill

On Saturday a massive protest titled: "Walk for Lika, Walk for Croatia" was held in Zagreb, at which protesters demanded fundamental changes to the waste management system and for political responsibility for the growing number of illegal landfills throughout the country.

Among the protesters demands at Saturday’s protest was that government present its plan to remediate the illegal landfill of hazardous European waste in Gospić within 20 days and that it remove the 33 thousand tons of toxic waste buried there three months.

In an interview for the state broadcaster, Croatian Television, Environmental Protection and Green Transition Minister Marija Vučković responded to protesters demands, saying that government would present a comprehensive remediation plan by September 20th.

Minister Vučković went on to say that government would work to remove the 33 thousand tons of toxic waste buried in Gospić as soon as possible, even suggesting the possibility that government might try to force those who broke the law to cover for the financial damages instead of pushing them on to tax payers.

"We will present an all-encompassing remediation plan, and a deadline will be a key part of the plan. We want to resolve this as soon as possible, but it's difficult to commit to a three month deadline because the majority of those who have responded to our call say they would need at least thirty days just to prepare a bid. We will nonetheless prepare the remediation plan and resolve this as soon as possible. We will show responsibility with regards to the state budget, and will try to charge those who are responsible for damaging the environment through their illegal actions. But, this will be done in parallel and will not stop us from clearing and renewing the ground at all sites as soon as possible," Minister Vučković said.

Source: HRT