The Center for Environment has filed criminal charge with the Banja Luka District Public Prosecutor’s Office, suspecting the commission of the criminal offense “Environmental Pollution with Waste Materials,” related to the potentially illegal spreading of land contaminated with pyralene from the Incel compound to surrounding settlements in Banja Luka.
Four years after the fire at the Incel compound, which caused contamination with one of the most toxic substances globally, and after a series of scandals and slow responses from authorities, citizens are once again concerned about the alleged spreading of contaminated soil and violations of the orders of the competent inspectorate.
A little over two weeks ago, the Center for Environment received reports from several concerned citizens from Bistrica, Čokorska Polja, Zeleni Vir, and Lauš neighborhoods. They expressed concern about the deposition of soil in their settlements, which, according to unofficial sources, was said to be from the Incel compound, from the site affected by the fire that resulted in pyralene pollution.
“We took these reports seriously, but could not go public with the information since we could not verify these claims. However, a few days after the report, the story became public when the Banja Luka Department of Inspection Affairs and the Municipal Police stated to the Capital.ba portal that there was no removal of contaminated soil from the Incel compound. However, a few days later, on the Gerila portal, a video was published showing excavation, loading, and transportation of soil from the immediate vicinity of the fire site,” said Igor Kalaba from the Center for Environment.
Due to all the stated facts, primarily the enormous toxicity of pyralene, and due to the very slow, multi-year process of its disposal, the Center for Environment decided to file a criminal report against unknown perpetrators.
“As far as we know, this entire part of Incel was sealed off by the inspectors, and the removal and treatment of soil should have taken place only after the completion of the tender for the selection of the contractor. In addition, a different method of transportation would surely have been planned, with a vehicle equipped for the removal of soil contaminated with toxic material. In the case we witnessed, ordinary trucks transport the soil, and the load is not covered even with a basic tarp, while wheel traces are clearly visible in areas characterized as highly contaminated in the Deconta document prescribing remediation measures,” Kalaba added, pointing out that this is a failure of several institutions that were supposed to ensure the health and safety of the people of Banja Luka:
“Environmental protection is not the only area where we witness the disorder of our society and the exposure of ordinary people to dangers that institutions fail to protect them from. The problems are so common that among us, a saying has developed – there were bigger problems, that we didn’t fix. Unfortunately, the magnitude of this problem and the potential number of those affected by this pollution can hardly be greater.”
The Center for Environment expects a serious and methodical approach from the competent prosecutor’s office regarding the filed criminal report, the initiation of an investigation, and a comprehensive response that will ultimately prevent the illegal spreading of contaminated soil in areas not designated for its treatment, all with the aim of preserving the health and well-being of the residents of these settlements and the broader environment.