23.11.2023.
In cooperation with Viškovo Municipality, on 22 and 23 November the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund held public panels for the inhabitants of Viškovo Municipality presenting the information on the current state of remediation of Sovjak pit, as well as on the activities carried out and those planned as part of the remediation project.Iva Jandriček, the head of the Department for support to end users in project preparation, expressed her satisfaction that after a long process of documentation preparation and obtaining permits, there was finally some progress with the first physical works on the site of Sovjak pit. "What we can currently see are Stage I works that include the construction of a plateau to accommodate equipment for the later extraction of waste from the pit," said Jandriček, adding: "We are now closest to the very stage of extracting waste from the pit, and the aim of this panel is to present in detail to all of you what is ahead of us in Stage II, and about all measures that will be implemented with the aim of reducing the impact on people and the environment."
Slaven Soldo, design engineer from Ivicom Consulting, spoke in detail about the activities carried out on the design and obtaining permits. The works currently being carried are the obligatory preparatory works for the subsequent extraction of waste from the pit, and include the erection of a fence, the construction of plateaus, the installation of cranes, and of auxiliary equipment.
Dario Kontošić from the Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County presented the performance and importance of measuring stations with an outline of validated measurement results at the location. The results are regularly published on the jama-sovjak.eu project website, a free mobile application, and are also available on the Teaching Institute's website, where data obtained from other measuring stations are also displayed.
Vladimir Kanić from the company Prospekt presented the mobile app, informing the locals about information displays that were installed at two locations along the roads in the immediate vicinity of Sovjak pit, showing the results of air quality measurements. All these communication channels have been established to ensure maximum visibility and transparency of air quality measurements.
As a representative of the contractor, Igor Meixner from the company DLS presented the Plan and programme of notification and potential temporary relocation of residents, or evacuation in the case of exceeding permitted concentration levels of pollutants in the air. It elaborates on all the steps that will be taken if the limit values of pollutants are exceeded, or even before reaching the limit values.
With the aim of ensuring better communication, instructive brochures with key information that will also be available on the project website, were distributed to the locals. The turnout of the citizens of Viškovo Municipality at the two panels was substantial, showing there is significant interest in the Sovjak pit remediation project. Accordingly, the project team headed by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund will continue to actively and timely present current developments on the project to locals and media representatives.
