Gospić illegal waste site cleanup stalls as protest looms

The former PPK Velebit site in Gospić, where roughly 45,000 tons of illegal waste have been stored, remains un‑remediated despite a government‑backed plan and an estimated cost of up to €50 million. A media conference on 25 June, attended by the environment ministry’s secretary Anja Bagarić, fund director Luka Balen and regional officials, reaffirmed that the cleanup is a priority, but no visible work had begun.

Citizens’ group “Gospić je naš dom” warned that “sanacija još nije započela” and called for a public forum, while organising the “Hod za Liku” protest scheduled for 27 June. The same day the fund announced a new public‑procurement round after the previous tender attracted no offers, and reported that the budget for removing scattered waste had risen to €4.7 million. The controversy highlights delays, funding challenges and local discontent over the handling of the illegal dump.