The new decision of the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro to stop waste disposal at the illegal landfill "Mostina" in Rožaje is the result of a long-standing struggle by the citizens of Rožaje, activists and environmental organizations who have been warning for years about the harmful consequences of illegal waste disposal at that landfill, according to the NGO Promjene.
In a statement, the organization recalls that the Agency "issued decision number 03-UPI-841/29 of September 29, ordering the immediate cessation of further disposal and storage of waste at the temporary, or illegal, waste landfill "Mostina".
"With this decision, the Agency confirms that the location is illegal and that it poses an immediate threat to the environment and human health. The decision obliges Komunalno Rožaje to immediately stop any further disposal and storage of waste at that location, to physically secure the landfill until its complete rehabilitation, and to submit a report on the measures implemented to the Agency within 30 days. This decision is the result of a long-standing struggle by the citizens of Rožaje, activists and environmental organizations who have been warning for years about the harmful consequences of illegal waste disposal in the "Mostina" settlement. Despite numerous reports, initiatives and appeals, the institutions have been silent for a long time," said the NGO Promjene.
They call on the Minister of Ecology, Damjan Ćulafić, “to act according to this decision, and not to annul it, as was the case previously, and thereby call into question the integrity of the Agency.” The Agency, according to the NGO Promjene, confirmed that the demands of the environmental activists were based on facts and the law.
According to the president of the NGO Promjene, Denis Murić, the Agency's decision "proves that through persistence, arguments, and joint action, justice can be achieved."
"The citizens of Rožaje deserve to live in a healthy and clean environment, not next to a landfill that has been endangering water, air and soil for years. This is a victory for all of us who love our city and do not agree to remain silent in the face of injustice. The NGO 'Promjene' calls on local authorities and competent companies to immediately implement the Agency's decision and begin the process of permanent rehabilitation of the 'Mostina' location, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning," he said.
The NGO expects "the public to be informed in a timely manner about each measure implemented, and that those responsible for the resulting environmental damage bear the legal consequences." They announce that they will continue to monitor the implementation of the solution. They remind that problems in the community "cannot be solved by improvisation and temporary solutions, a comprehensive strategy and a responsible approach by local government are needed."
They say that environmental protection is not a luxury, but a basic human right and that "they will not stop until every 'Mostina' becomes a thing of the past."
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