University professor and environmental expert, Zeqir Veselaj, has spoken about air quality in Pristina, emphasizing the need for a systematic approach by state institutions to improve this situation.
According to Veselaj, air quality in Pristina and beyond is a constant challenge that affects the health of citizens, as he emphasized that it does not change with the change of seasons, years or even governments.
"Prishtina and Kosovo are characterized by an air quality that is not good for human health and this situation requires a systemic effort and solution on the part of the state, so that the citizens of Kosovo can breathe air of a better quality than they have today" , he said on public television.
Veselaj identified some of the main sources of air pollution. According to him, KEK's power plants, which use coal as an energy source, have continuously polluted the air for decades. This pollution has a direct impact not only in Pristina, but also in the surrounding areas. However, the second pollution factor according to him is the heavy traffic load, the poor quality of the roads and the dominance of diesel cars.
He said that heating with wood and coal still prevails in Kosovo, while the use of inverters or converters, which are supplied with electricity sourced from coal, contributes to the deterioration of air quality.
Veselaj noted a slight improvement in air quality during snowy days. He emphasized that rainfall helps reduce harmful particles in the atmosphere, bringing temporary relief to citizens.
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He said that Pristina is not the most polluted city in the Balkans or Europe, but emphasized that this should not be a reason to ignore the problem.
"The authorities should not be comfortable and say that our environment is fine, because the air we are breathing is not of a quality that we need", he added. / RTK
