According to the data of the Environmental Protection Agency, in the past period the air in Bijelo Polje was highly polluted, often more polluted than Pljevlje, and the councilors in the Bijelo Polje parliament will discuss the solution to the pollution problem at the session on Thursday, when measures and recommendations will be presented. sent to the Government.
The proposal for measures was made by the Council for Environmental Protection and, in addition to the Government, the initiative will also be sent to the Committee for Tourism, Agriculture, Spatial Planning and Ecology of the Parliament of Montenegro.
The initiative contains proposals for measures that the Government and the Board should adopt and implement in order to improve the state of air quality, and includes subsidizing the reduction of bills for the consumption of electricity for the citizens of the municipality of Bijelo Polje in the heating season, subsidizing the installation of solar panels for the citizens of the municipality, subsidizing the installation of filters for air purification at the source of the furnace, making a decision on the declaration of public interest "Bijelo Polje Heating Project", with the aim of reducing air pollution, as a long-term measure and opening the Office for Environmental Inspection in Bijelo Polje.
Secretary of the Secretariat for Rural Development Jasmin Ćorović said that the occurrence of an increase in the concentration of polluting PM particles, when it comes to the city core, is typical for December and January.
"Due to the specificity of the configuration of Bijelo Polje, which is located in a valley, between several hills, and the flow of the river Lim through the center of the city, in December and January usually occur the so-called temperature inversions, due to the increased amount of fog and lack of wind, especially if we also have reduced amounts of precipitation. The consequence of the absence of the so-called ventilation of the city is reflected in the accumulation of polluting PM 10 particles and PM 2,5 particles in the air," said Ćorović, stating that the biggest sources of polluting particles are fireplaces in individual households and institutions and other legal entities, as well as car exhaust gases.
With the beginning of the heating season, the state measuring station, which is located next to Elementary School "Risto Ratković", reads increased concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2,5 particles in the air.
"In order to preserve and improve air quality and reduce harmful consequences for human health, respecting EU directives and the Montenegrin legislative framework and other by-laws, the Environmental Protection Agency carries out administrative and professional work in this area. According to the Air Pollution Protection Act, air quality is evaluated, managed and monitored, as well as the emission of polluting substances into the air", says Ćorović.
Ćorović warns that people recognize the presence of these particles as an increased smell of smog, and difficulties can only arise if the concentration is significantly increased.
In cases of increased pollution, experts advise avoiding unnecessary outings and longer stays outdoors, avoiding walks, fast walking and running, and outdoor training.
"It is recommended to use air conditioners or heating systems that have appropriate filters, as well as to avoid heating systems with fossil and solid fuels that cause internal pollution, to stop smoking in the rooms where one stays, to wear woolen scarves over the respiratory organs when going out (mouth, nose ), reducing the use of cars due to increased exhaust gases, as well as avoiding busy roads".
Regarding what the municipality has undertaken in accordance with its competences, Ćorović states that in addition to monitoring the results of air quality, especially during the autumn and winter months, the municipality adopted a local environmental management plan 2020-2024. year, as an umbrella document in the field of environmental protection, including improvement of air quality and reduction of pollution to the smallest possible extent.
"In the previous period, the President of the Municipality formed the Commission for assessing the state of air quality in Bijelo Polje and proposing measures to improve that state. The commission prepared an expert report with a cross-section and assessment of the state of air quality in Bijelo Polje. The commission had the task of determining the current state of air quality, compare that state with the state of air quality in the previous period, if possible determine the sources of air pollution, evaluate the trend of the state of air quality in the following period, make a list, i.e. assessment of air pollutants in this municipality and propose short-term and long-term measures that should be taken in order to reduce the consequences and improve the air quality in Bijelo Polje. Based on this, a set of short-term, medium-term and long-term measures was proposed, and an opinion was also given that it is necessary to adopt an air pollution study or a local action plan", said Ćorović.
The Secretariat for Rural and Sustainable Development, he noted, created a catalog of potential air pollutants in Bijelo Polje, which contains relevant data on all air pollutants in this municipality, and in the budget for the current year, allocated funds for the implementation of the air purification project in Bijelo Polje - replacement coal and solid fuel boilers, which is ongoing.
"A conceptual design of the waste air purification of the 300kw biomass boiler located in the Center for Cultural Activities in the city center was prepared and a tender was announced for the installation of filters for air purification according to EU standards, which will most likely be procured by the end of the year".
The biggest air polluters in Bijelo Polje are the building of the High and Basic Courts, then the Municipality, as well as the Prosecutor's Office building, and Radio Bijelo Polje, which is why the budget of the Secretariat for Rural and Sustainable Development for 2023 also includes an item for the purchase and installation of air filters .
"These institutions are recognized as major air polluters. In addition, in 2023, in cooperation with the German embassy, the investment of replacing boilers and locksmiths for energy efficiency will be realized in Elementary School "Risto Ratković", which will significantly contribute to the improvement of air quality in the city", he said.
The Municipality reminds that they have repeatedly turned to the Government, relevant ministries and the Eco Fund for financial assistance in order to subsidize all those who want to change their fireplaces in individual households and switch to more environmentally friendly heating methods, but that none of the mentioned institutions have responded. responded.
The local administration invites citizens to use the subsidies provided by the Government and the Ministry of Economy for the transition from polluting heating systems to more environmentally friendly home heating systems in order to achieve sustainable energy efficiency.
The Ministry of Economy has been implementing a number of projects such as "ENERGY WOOD" for many years. By applying the measure of replacing inefficient heating stoves with efficient ones and measures to improve the energy characteristics of the building envelope (installation of thermal insulation on the facade walls of the residential building and installation of energy-efficient carpentry) in all individual buildings used for housing, built before 2010 until the end of the observed period, i.e. at the beginning of 2030, significant thermal energy savings would be achieved, and at the same time a reduction of PM 2.5 emissions by 35 percent from the housing sector would be achieved, which would ultimately result in a reduction of emissions at the national level in the amount of 25 percent.
Apart from these, other measures are implemented at the central level to reduce the impact of suspended PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles.
Increasing the use of alternative fuels, new generation vehicles and electromobility in traffic. The implementation of these measures is ongoing, but these are costs that arise as a consequence of technological or economic development, i.e. they are not primarily aimed at improving air quality, but the activity itself results in an additional benefit.
Bonus video:
