The Minister of Environment is confident that the pollution issue could be resolved during her term, and a tender worth €4.72 million has been reissued for the removal of surface waste.
On Tuesday, Minister of Environment Marija Vučković announced that additional investigative boreholes will be installed and groundwater monitoring will be intensified in the Gospić area, where waste was illegally disposed of. In an interview with HTV's Dnevnik, she assessed that the pollution problem caused by so-called forever chemicals could be resolved during her term in office.
"I believe it could be solvable," Vučković stated, adding that procurement for the installation of additional investigative boreholes is already being prepared. The buried portion of the waste will be temporarily covered to prevent further leaching into the soil and groundwater. "All the experts stand behind this; we must do it, and it will not extend the remediation timeline at all," she emphasized.
The landfill remediation is currently being carried out in two phases, with a third phase in preparation. According to her, this activity could not be fully prepared until the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering completed its expert assessment. Currently, approximately 4,500 tonnes of hazardous waste and 650 tonnes of non-hazardous waste are located on the visible part of the landfill.
The first tender for the removal and treatment of surface waste received no bids. In the reissued tender, the estimated value has increased from €2.1 million to €4.72 million. The reason for the price increase is the higher chlorine content, which significantly raises the costs of thermal treatment. If there are still no interested companies this time, the minister announced that they will immediately proceed with a negotiated procedure.
"We will ensure timely remediation; we will do our utmost, and we have additional solutions," Vučković stated, emphasizing that such an operation cannot be completed within seven days or a month. Regarding the buried waste, the Ministry has already contacted more than 60 companies that manage hazardous waste landfills or incineration plants within the European Union.
The minister asserted that water for human consumption is safe according to all reports and sampling conducted so far. Since March, 13 samples have been taken, and Vučković now announces more frequent sampling, enhanced groundwater monitoring, and regular public reporting.
Commenting on the claims of the suspect businessman Josip Šincek that the source of pollution may not be at his location, and his request for assessments at other landfills in Lika, the minister said it is difficult to comment on his statements. "Detailed assessments have been conducted at the site. These assessments indicate the need for timely remediation," she stated.
Vučković described the case of illegal waste disposal as a serious criminal offense against the environment. She emphasized that the State Attorney's Office and other competent institutions are determining responsibility, while the Ministry is responsible for remediation. When asked why the illegal waste was not discovered for years, she said that municipal inspection services and the State Inspectorate were responsible for certain parts of oversight. The criminal investigation, she added, will establish the responsibility of all involved. The minister also confirmed that she will attend the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Nature, which will be held in Gospić on Friday.
