The Prime Minister of the Zenica-Doboj Canton Nezir Pivić, together with the Minister of Health Aida Salčinović, the Minister of Economy Samir Šibonjić and the Director of the Institute for Health and Food Safety of Zenica Muamer Mandra, accompanied by the Mayor of the Municipality of Vareš Malik Rizvanović, visited Pržići in the Municipality of Vareš yesterday where he spoke with representatives of the local communities of Pržići, Daštansko and Mir, which gravitate to the area of the exploitation field of the Rupice mine.
In these places, increased concentrations of lead in the blood of a number of residents were found, but without acute symptoms of poisoning. Prime Minister Pivić repeated the position of the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton that health and a clean environment are priorities about which there is no dilemma and that competent institutions are doing everything to determine the cause of the contamination.
– I had the need and desire to talk to the locals and convince them that the Zenica-Doboj canton and the competent institutions will put all available mechanisms into full operation in order to possibly remove the causes, but also prevent the future possibility of contamination – said Prime Minister Nezir Pivić.
The representatives of the three mentioned local communities presented certain proposals for solving the problem, especially when it comes to transporting ore and washing trucks. It was stated that the new owner of the mine is already working on the construction of a truck wash that should be operational in the spring, which should reduce dust emissions in the ore transport area.
Prime Minister Pivić appealed that all questions related to this sensitive topic be resolved through the competent institutions, which have already responded adequately and will be available until the situation is fully clarified.
– The Institute for Health and Food Safety, the Ministry of Health and all health institutions in the area of the canton are at the disposal of the citizens of Vareš, as well as the entire canton, especially when it comes to this sensitive issue – said Prime Minister Pivić.
