No later than Thursday, when there would be five days since pollution exceeded the maximum permitted level, City of Skopje must send recommendations measures to the Ministry of Environment to protect citizens from the extensively polluted air, inform representatives of the City of Skopje for news agency META. On the other hand, representatives of the ministry say that it is not true and that the entire responsibility for the measures for air pollution is in the hands of the local self-government.
Representatives of the City of Skopje say that after five days continuously exceeding the permitted levels of air pollution, they are obliged to submit recommendations to the Government, which then assumes the obligation to protect citizens from pollution. Then, if the condition of air pollution is not changed, the Ministry of Environment and the Government must prepare recommendations for the protection of citizens within 10 days.
According to Sasho Sekulovski from the Ministry of Environment, they’ve taken all measures under their jurisdiction.
– We’ve closed the large factories that polluted. All other measures that are to be taken are in the hands of local self-government. Their investigators should inspect the firewood used by citizens, and it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Economy to control the old cars. We have done our part of the work – said Sekulovski for META.
This morning, air pollution in Skopje and Tetovo is enormous, and according to the index of pollution, the level of suspended particulate matter PM 10 is also high in several Skopje settlements.
According to data published on the website of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, pollution is high in Skopje settlement Centar, Karposh, Lisiche and Gazi Baba, as well as in Tetovo.
During yesterday, the level of these particles was increased four times in average in all these places.
In October, City of Skopje brought short-term and long-term measures and activities that will be taken to deal with the constantly enormous ambient air pollution in Skopje, with a special emphasis on the winter, when the pollution is most critical.
“If we come to a situation where we have air pollution for more than 10 days, calcium – magnesium – acetate will be applied on the roads in the city for control and reduction of fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5 particles) and for stabilization of the roads,” informed representatives of the City of Skopje at the time.
