Environmental concerns persist in Drvar and Viškovo

In Drvar, authorities are investigating reports of unpleasant odors and smoke following citizen complaints during the summer. Air quality measurements conducted by the Institute for Civil Engineering “IG” in the Brežine settlement, near a former cellulose factory, did not show concentrations of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, or PM10 particles exceeding legal limits. However, officials noted that the three-day testing period was insufficient to determine the cause of the odors or the overall air quality throughout the summer.

In Viškovo, the remediation of the Sovjak industrial waste pit has been delayed until 2029 or 2030. Mirko Budiša, deputy director of the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, announced that a new public procurement process for a contractor will begin in the first half of next year following the termination of a previous contract due to delays and investigations. Local residents remain concerned about air quality, but officials stated that air monitoring will only be conducted by the contractor once remediation works commence.