Pristina, closed for smog

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Sky-high pollution rates led Prishtina authorities to close the centre to traffic, while many citizens protested to ask for new measures to improve quality of air. A photo-report by Veton Kasapolli/OBCT

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On January 31st, 2018 the municipality of Prishtina introduced emergency measures to curb pollution in the Kosovar capital
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Pollution is mainly caused by motor vehicles – mostly old, second-hand cars – and the brown coal plant, located in the vicinity of the city
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The decision to stop traffic from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. has caused visible discontent. Only circulation of cabs and public transport is allowed
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Other measures include the prohibition of brown coal for domestic heating. Pollution rates in the city have been off the charts for weeks. Over the winter, Prishtina has consistently been among the most polluted capitals in the world
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On the day when traffic was stopped, many citizens protested in the centre to ask for effective measures against pollution
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On the same day, the Parliament held a special meeting on the topic. All parties supported new measures, while the opposition asked for more transparency on the side of institutions that manage data on pollution
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According to the pneumology clinic of the Kosovo Clinical and University Centre (data 2006-2010), every year Prishtina registers 20 new cases of lung cancer out of 100,000 inhabitants
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The "Kosovo A" plant has installed filters to curb emissions. In the beginning of the year, a fine particles peak of 600-mgs per cubic metre was registered, against a European limit of 50