VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM accuse each other over the pollution


VMRO-DPMNE continues to accuse SDSM for the air pollution, which is a consequence, among other things, of their policy for ten years in power. According to the opposition party, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Mayor Petre Silegov do not do absolutely nothing to preserve the health of the citizens from the polluted air.
“Skopje and Macedonia are absolute record breakers in pollution worldwide. The state is in the company of countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh. Citizens face severe consequences on their health, especially the chronically ill, children and the elderly on a daily basis.

Zoran Zaev and Petre Silegov did not implement any project for improving the quality of the air. While in opposition, they promised that after the change of power, the air would magically improve. Here we are, almost two years later and they still don’t know where they are going and what they are doing. Not even the information coming from the world institutions and non-governmental organizations that claim that solving the problem with air pollution is not a priority to this government is also not helpful,” the opposition said. The opposition stated that, according to the World Health Organization, about 3,000 people die annually in Macedonia due to poor air quality.

“They have the money, but instead of finding a way to cope with pollution, they spend millions on luxury. They will spend seven million euros on luxury cars and furniture, 1.6 million euros for lubricants, and only 1.5 million euros to fight pollution. This is an unprecedented absurdity,” the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE said, for which the court has previously been holding several trials. According to VMRO-DPMNE, instead of coming up with specific solutions, the authorities come up with empty phrases and new lies that are not beneficial to the citizens.

SDSM said that the government undertakes measures and work to solve the inherited problem with the polluted air that at the local and central level, as well as the City of Skopje, a problem that was “ignored by the previous government of VMRO-DPMNE for 11 years”. In doing so they list the measures that are ongoing in order for the problem to be discussed sparingly.

“There is an ongoing reconstruction of the avenues in Skopje, those that had been cut by VMRO-DPMNE and never been replaced and restored. The avenues were rebuilt and new trees were planted in Gjorce Petrov and Bit Pazar.

More than 6,000 new trees were planted in spring tree planting action. Planting of new 3,500 is envisaged in the autumn campaign for greener Skopje.
In the past six months, new and reconstructed green areas have been created over 50,000 square meters. New large green areas are also being prepared – a new park behind the Macedonian Philharmonic and a new park – a green roof on GTC.

The inspection supervision of the industrial capacities has increased, the capacity of the inspection services operating in two shifts has been increased and they are controlled by all.

Controls on the entire territory of Skopje for illegal landfills have been strengthened.