The international human rights organization FIAN and the environmental protection organization Aarhus Center invited Bosnia and Herzegovina. authorities to start solving the problems caused by pollution from thermal power plants.
They claim that water and crops in the Tuzla area are contaminated and that pollution from thermal power plants is the main cause of respiratory diseases, allergies, cancer and other serious health problems.
According to them, the area of land in Tuzla, which is used for coal mining, is the largest compared to the rest of the country. They pointed out that a total of more than 8,000 hectares of land has been degraded, half of which is forest vegetation.
They noted that the Tuzla Thermal Power Plant was built in the period from 1959 to 1978 and that it is managed by the Electric Power Company of Bosnia and Herzegovina (EP BiH). They concluded that this thermal power plant is the main source of air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also reminded that the construction of additional capacities of this energy plant is being considered, despite the fact that it is harmful to health.
“The food produced in this area is contaminated due to inadequate protection and recultivation in locations containing harmful substances. The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has failed to adequately deal with the causes of pollution and degradation of natural resources and the consequences arising from that,” they said.
FIAN and the Aarhus Center believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina violates its obligations regarding the protection of human rights and the environment, and have called for: reviewing the construction of new thermal power plants and subsidizing coal mines; establishing, as they stated, ambitious plans to end the use of coal and lignite; assistance to those harmed by the use of coal; restoration of biodiversity and realization of the right to a healthy diet; that the consent of citizens is expressly requested for any project that could endanger health and the environment.
The focus of FIAN is ensuring the right to healthy food and nutrition, Klix.ba reports.
