Residents of Zbljevo and the surrounding villages in Pljevlja have announced that they will block some of the main roads and the delivery of coal to the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant if those responsible from the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG) do not solve the problem of dust spreading from the Maljevac landfill, where ash and slag are disposed of.
Several locals spent the previous night in a village hall to draw the attention of those responsible at EPCG to the problems caused by dust, which is blown by the wind across their properties.
"The rain that fell the night before helped us a little, but we will not give up the protest until this problem is solved. There is no life here. You can't leave your house. People are forced to move out. This problem has been going on for 30 years," said local resident Darko Knežević.
He also says that no one from the Electric Power Company and the Thermal Power Plant contacted them or tried to talk to them about it.
Locals are demanding that a water mirror be formed over the entire surface of the landfill to prevent dust from spreading.
They also announced that they would file charges against EPCG and the Government of Montenegro for failing to resolve the problem and endangering their health.
"We've been waiting for EPCG to fulfill their promises for a long time. They promise us that the landfill will be a park promenade, but nothing has come of it. They said they would keep the surface under water, but they haven't kept that either. There is no life here. Everything is at risk. All that's left is for them to evict us or for us to leave our homes ourselves. We are asking them to keep the landfill under water," said local resident Slaviša Petrović.
The President of the Municipality of Pljevlja, Dario Vraneš, supported the residents of the village in the immediate vicinity of the Thermal Power Plant, emphasizing that this is irresponsible and unacceptable behavior by the leaders of EPCG.
"Clouds of dust and ash fell on the surrounding villages and these people cannot live here," Vranes said.
He said that he had sent an urgent message to the Minister of Mining to respond urgently.
"Water mirrors must be there and this area must be kept under water. They are not maintaining it regularly now and with the first wind, clouds of dust fall on the village. Life is impossible, children cannot go to school. The local administration will offer hotel accommodation to the locals. Something must be done here. Water mirrors must be there. They are not maintaining it regularly and with the first wind, clouds of dust fall on the village. As a form of assistance, they will offer hotel accommodation," said Vraneš.
Bonus video:
