There are risks of landslides in Canton Sarajevo (CS), but the relevant authorities are continuously monitoring the situation on the ground to find the best solutions, with joint efforts to implement remediation projects. It is important for residents, especially those in areas where landslides have been observed, to stay alert and follow instructions from the responsible authorities, including municipal civil services and other relevant bodies.
The Minister of Public Utilities, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction, and Environmental Protection of CS, Bojan Bosnjak, emphasizes that the Stari Grad municipality, particularly near the Bistricki Stream at the foot of Mount Trebevic, is currently at risk of landslides. This area is being closely monitored.
“We will soon receive updated field data indicating other areas where landslides may pose a threat,” Bosnjak said in an interview.
According to him, in a situation where the potential danger of landslides is being considered, the issue of illegal construction of buildings in the area of CS is also discussed. As he said, this is often forgotten when the situation is normal.
“There are many illegally built structures in our canton, a problem that has accumulated over the past 30 years. Eventually, we will pay the price for the negative developments that have occurred in CS. It is estimated that over 25.000 residential buildings were constructed without the proper permits. This is a large number, especially considering many of these buildings are in urban areas, often on the slopes surrounding the city. This puts significant pressure on the terrain, complicating efforts to improve conditions. Unfortunately, the irresponsibility of both individuals and the system over the last three decades has led to a significant number of landslides. While some landslides are more dangerous than others, it should be noted that we are monitoring the situation and will issue alerts as needed,” Bosnjak stressed.
Minister Bosnjak referenced a report by the CS Construction Institute, prepared at the request of the Civil Protection Headquarters, which found that excessive construction on Trebevic Mountain near the Istocni Stari Grad municipality, bordering Sarajevo’s Stari Grad, along with illegal waste dumping, has contributed to the current landslide issues.
“This highlights the problems we are facing in the capital, which are influenced by actions in the smaller Bosnian and Herzegovinian (BiH) entity. Communication with them exists but on a limited scale. I have raised concerns about this before. Furthermore, the municipal services of Istocni Stari Grad operate according to their own plans and measures, which significantly impact us, their neighbors. This should have been identified earlier as a serious issue. Although communication exists, we lack accurate information about the situation on their side,” Bosnjak emphasized.
The minister stressed the importance of cooperation between CS and Istocni Stari Grad for the benefit of the citizens who live here. He said they had requested official data on construction preparations for the “Trebevic Hills” project, which is underway. While he does not doubt the project complies with regulations, he cautioned against drawing conclusions until official inspection reports are received from the institutions of Republika Srpska (RS).
“This serves as a reminder that cooperation, especially between neighboring areas, is essential. From my position, I will work to establish and build institutional cooperation because we need coexistence. Early action, collaboration, and joint projects are imperative,” he stressed.
Highlighting the importance of environmental protection and reforestation, Bosnjak explained that part of Trebevic Mountain is a protected area managed by the CS Public Institution for Protected Natural Areas.
“Our inspectors record anomalies in the field daily. We are working to improve this area within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH). For the effort to be comprehensive, we need to develop projects that cross the entity border. In the coming period, I will focus on institutional cooperation with Istocno Sarajevo to proactively address potential problems,” he said.
The minister also stressed the importance of citizens behaving responsibly in a modern city like Sarajevo.
“Sarajevo is a metropolis, the capital of an internationally recognized country, and it must shine. Sarajevo must be a beacon of cleanliness and living standards. We are working to clean public areas and invite citizens to join us in treating public property as their own. Furthermore, people must follow regulations and collaborate with relevant authorities on projects they wish to undertake, reporting issues to municipal or cantonal services. The goal is to raise the quality of life across the canton, city, and municipalities,” Bosnjak emphasized.
Following severe floods and landslides in other parts of BiH, CS initiated risk assessments. One of the first challenges arose in the Stari Grad municipality, particularly due to illegal waste dumping in the Bistricki Stream area below Mount Trebevic.
The CS Construction Institute prepared an assessment of the site upon the request of the Civil Protection Headquarters, and a preliminary report has been presented to the CS Government. The report outlines necessary actions to prevent further deterioration. Additionally, the government has requested coordination with cantonal institutions through municipalities to gather data on all landslides in the canton. In the coming days, a plan will be defined to mitigate potential problems that may affect residents.
Photo: illustration
