On 07.06.2018, the thematic activity on Integrated Air Quality Management - Challenges of Meeting European Standards was organized in Mallakastra Municipality.
The activity started with a visit to the EU Corner premises in the new building of the Municipality of Mallakaster. Furthermore, earlier to the open meeting with the public, another meeting was orgaznied with the representative of the European Union Delegation Mr. Hubert Grandejan and the Mayor of Mallakastra Municipality, Mr. Agron Kapllanaj. The latter gave a brief presentation of the problematic issues regarding air pollution in the area of Mallakastra and expressed the need for measures to be taken for monitoring of the pollution.
An open public meeting was held in the new hall of the Municipal Council, with the participation of civil society representatives and various interest groups. The concerns of the Municipality staff of Mallakastra, environment and public health experts, as well as citizens of Mallakastra were presented regarding the high level of pollution as a result of the exploitation of the oilfield.
Participants in the activity brought up different examples of the impact of the air and soil pollution from hydrocarbons because of pollution from the extractive and processing industry of hydrocarbons. The Mayor, Mr. Kapllanaj, mentioned the measures that the Municipality has taken regarding the improvement of air quality through the increase of the green areas.
Experts like Mrs. Tushe Qalliaj, Public Health Expert, and Ms. Zela Koka, representative of the Albania Disabled People Association, provided statistics on the effects that the pollution from the hydrocarbons has on the health of the inhabitants as well as the effect it causes on children with disabilities. Mr. Sazan Guri, environmentalist, exposed concrete examples of the detrimental effects of pollutant substances that come from oil.
Children from the Secondary School “Beselidhja”, provided messages on the effects they feel from the air pollution and made a plea to take measures to protect the environment.
At the end, the activity was concluded by planting trees in the newly reconstructed premises of the “Ismail Klosi” School in Ballsh City.
