Anesa Colakovic, Kastriot Shala,Nita Nishliu, Hevzi Abdullahu, Argjira Lluka, Edona Begu, Gentiana Mahmuti, Rita Saraci, Adelina Bilalli, Abetare Gojani, Shpend Bytyqi, Rina Rezniqi, Hana Gafurri, Dafina Prekazi, Rrona Kelmendi, Dijana Simijonovic, Edona Bajrami, Blerina Halili, Nart Orana, Ljubica Jankovic, Ylli Qerkini, Miroslav Jacimovic, Ejona Blyta, Laure Lumezhi, Deniz Tortoshi, Festim Selimi, Blond Gerqari, Visar Xhambazi, Buleza Ahmeti, Lirim Bllaca, Sinan Thaqi, Brishen Iannitelli-Pombo, Besart Grabanica, Kreshnik Zeneli,Valon Hasanaj, Ermira Birinxhiku,

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This article/blog was written by Arben Salihu from Balkans-Regional Reporting & Sustainable Training. He clearly points out very important issues on how the current situation in the village of Dardhishte, which is near the chimney Kosova A, is affecting many residents’ lives. Many residents are blaming KEK for the death of many of their family members. However, on the other side, some KEK representatives are accepting the fault but at the same time claiming that there is nothing that can be done, considering that there is no sufficient budget to build a pro-environment plant house that would not harm anyone. This article tackles the deep reality of many Kosovars who are suffering from this issue therefore; it would be a very good article to find arguments.

          The article here is talking about the negative effects of the Kosovo A powerplant on its close environment, mostly on the village of Dardhishte, which is located right beside the plant and therefore absorbs most of the negative effects of the plant, such as pollution. Namely, high emissions of particles and poisonous gas coming from the chimney of the plant, as well as other toxic materials which are poured into the rivers and streams of this area have caused many casualties in this region, especially in the village of Dardhishte. In this area, people consider themselves lucky if none of their family members has died as result of pollution, which apparently causes lung cancer. Namely, the emissions of Kosovo A were 74 times higher than the maximum allowed by European standards (Salihu, 2006 , par. 3). Such huge emissions are largely due to the poor quality of the filters installed on the chimneys, which need to be replaced with more efficient ones.

            The magnitude of the pollution seems to be caused by the human factor as well, as the workers, and presumably, the managers, would remove the filter for greater power production (Salihu, 2006 , par. 10). As the news about the filter removal was spread, the management of KEK came out to say that they are not aware that something like that happened, and did not even initiate an investigation to at least prove that nothing has happened. The ministers of the energy sector say that “this situation is tragic, yet we must run the plants in order to provide enough electricity for the people of Kosovo” (Salihu, 2006 , par. 32).

            The idea of development and modernization is to find new and improved ways that people can benefit. Do we see that here? Apparently not. The statements of the ministers that we must choose whether we want a healthier environment or more energy is also tragic. There is always something that can be done to ensure that the tradeoff does not exist, or to at least minimize it. But nothing can be done if people who can make a difference stand idle. A lot more must be done to raise awareness of the subject, because, like you and me and everybody else living in Kosovo, people of Dardhishte village and its surrounding deserve the same living conditions we have. For if we do not do that, then there will be no equity in our society, and the environment and the people will suffer more and more. 

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Bajraktari, K. (2007). Environmental Deterioration risks Kosovo'sfuture*. Retrieved September 18, 2011, from KIJAZ

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