Filenews 6 June 2024
The Green Movement complains that for the major environmental disaster, which occurred with the spillage of 150,000 tons of livestock waste into Lake Achna, only €4000 was fined.
And it indicates that "as long as the law on environmental liability, which provides for heavy penalties – up to 200,000 euros fine and imprisonment – is not implemented there will be no real law and respect for nature in this country."
This is the announcement of the Green Movement:
After a series of letters to the relevant government departments, we reveal today the outcome of the incident with the leakage of 150,000 tons of livestock waste into Lake Achna.
The incident occurred on February 25, 2024 when the wall of a livestock sewage evaporation tank collapsed. The wastewater, after crossing fields with crops, ended up about one kilometer inside the Achna dam, which is part of the network of European nature protection areas Natura 2000.
According to analyses by a private laboratory, the water had become unsuitable even for irrigation.
Our measurements were subsequently confirmed by the report of all measurements carried out by the Water Department.
In fact, the water of the Achna dam was unsuitable for irrigation until April 18, when it was allowed to be used again for agricultural purposes.
For this major environmental damage only a fine of €4000 was imposed.
That is, for every ton of waste that ended up in the dam causing incalculable ecological and economic damage, the responsible waste management body paid the astronomical amount of 2.6 cents.
In fact, according to our research, earthen waste tanks are not covered by planning permission.
It is obvious that the person responsible for the pollution – who happens to be a large dairy industry of the place – was essentially punished with a caress penalty.
As long as the law on environmental liability, which provides for heavy penalties – up to 200,000 euros fine and imprisonment, is not implemented – there will be no real rule of law and respect for nature in this country.
