The Kolašin Municipal Police Service is unable to sanction littering along main roads. For now, there is no possibility to install video surveillance at critical locations. This situation means that on both sides of the road, from Mateševo to Kolašin and from the city towards the Klisura tunnel, I can see large amounts of various waste every day.
Waste, including cans, plastic bottles, bags..., often ends up on private properties, creating an unbearable stench, owners of properties along the road to Mateševo told "Vijesti" this summer. As a result, locals are often forced to clean their properties daily.
The municipal police service, however, has not issued a single warrant for illegal dumping of garbage along main roads in the past 12 months.
This was stated by the acting head of that service, responding to a councilor's question. Stevan Switzerland.
He is an expert. Matija Bulatović from the Movement "Together we build Kolašin" said that the municipal police do not have enough officers and only have one official vehicle. Because of this, he explained, it is very difficult to "cover all the main roads".
"Also, in order to sanction someone, we need to have evidence from the scene - a photo or video recording that someone is illegally and negligently dumping waste, and then the municipal police could react in a timely manner. In a few places outside the city, for example, on Mateševo and along the turnoff to Andrijevica, there were large amounts of garbage. I issued an order to the municipal police to remove it, and the order was acted upon... I would like to point out that I have repeatedly proposed that video surveillance cameras be installed in a few critical places, but as far as I am informed, this requires approval from the competent agency. I think that we could all appeal to the competent agency to give us approval to install video surveillance," Zvicer wrote in response to Bulatović.
He also said that two misdemeanor warrants in the amount of 1.500 euros were issued for dumping construction and other waste in public areas.
The "Let's Build Kolašin Together" movement announces that it will amend the budget proposal for next year and request that money be provided for the installation of video surveillance at several critical locations.
Bulatović believes that everyone should contribute to controlling and sanctioning illegal waste disposal, and that local administration should more aggressively fight against unscrupulous citizens.
Last summer, the Municipality, with the support of the Eco-Fund, implemented a project to rehabilitate illegal landfills in Trebaljevo, Babljak and Selišta. The total value of the project is close to 40.000 euros, of which the Eco-Fund provided a subsidy of 26.000 euros.
"The project included the removal of waste from illegally formed landfills, the installation of waste collection containers, the installation of information boards on proper waste disposal, as well as the planting of grass for the purpose of recultivation and preservation of the natural environment. This initiative represents an important step in preserving the environment and raising environmental awareness in the local community. The expected effects include reducing the negative impacts of illegal waste disposal and improving the quality of life," the Kolašin Municipality announced at the time.
They announced that they will continue activities aimed at sustainable development and protection of natural values, in cooperation with relevant partners.
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