SerbiaResidents around Mount Bobija have spent two years trying to determine which authority is responsible for cleaning up the toxic waste site of the former barite mine 'Oštra Stena.' The issue has become a bureaucratic ping-pong between three ministries—mining and energy, environmental protection, and agriculture—each passing responsibility to another. According to engineer Dragić Tomić, who represents the local ecological association 'Ekošum,' the situation began in August 2024 when the association submitted a report to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The ministry then forwarded the case to the Ministry of Mining and Energy (MRE), which conducted an inspection but referred the matter to the water inspection under the Ministry of Agriculture. However, the agricultural ministry’s inspection claimed they were not responsible, sending the case back to the MRE and the environmental ministry. This cycle continued until June 2026, when the water inspection also declined responsibility, returning the case to the original ministries. Meanwhile, during spring 2026, toxic water was illegally drained from the site into nearby rivers, endangering ecosystems, yet the Ministry of环境保护 did
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the bureaucratic confusion over responsibility for a toxic waste site, without overtly favoring any side. It includes quotes from multiple stakeholders and highlights the lack of clear regulatory oversight, maintaining neutrality.
