A beautiful river flowing between the mountains… Where once tourists used to come here for rafting, the water was so clear that even the bottom could be seen, but today only plastic bottles, tyres, wood and rotten garbage are seen floating far and wide in the same river. The smell is such that it becomes difficult to breathe. This river flowing through the middle of Europe has now become a living picture of the environmental crisis.

From clean water to mountain of garbage

The Drina river passing through the city of Visegrad in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was once known for its natural beauty, is today suffering from heavy pollution. This river flows through Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro. The garbage thrown carelessly by local people and tourists for years is now accumulating in this river. The situation is such that at many places the surface of the water appears covered with garbage.

Increasing trouble in rain and winter

The water level of the Drina river rises significantly during the winter and rainy seasons. Many times the river starts flowing above the danger mark and flood like situations arise. At such times, plastic, wood, domestic waste and other debris flowing from the surrounding areas gets collected in the river. It is said that in some areas about 10 thousand cubic meters of garbage has accumulated. This quantity is equal to filling a small field.

Barrier to stop garbage

The team at a Bosnian hydroelectric plant on the Drina River has installed a special barrier to prevent waste from flowing further. The purpose of this barrier is to ensure that the waste flowing in the river does not reach the power plant and damage the machines. Although this is a temporary solution. Garbage accumulates at the barrier, but there is still no adequate system to remove it and dispose of it properly.

Lack of development and challenge of waste management

Among the countries formed after the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Bosnia-Herzegovina lagged behind many European countries in terms of economic and development. There is a lack of adequate treatment plants and modern systems for waste management here. In many areas, people fill household waste in plastic bags and hang them in the open or on trees. Due to bad weather or tampering by animals, these bags burst and the garbage falls directly into the river.

Impact on environment and health

Plastic and other waste deposited in the river not only pollutes the water but also has a negative impact on aquatic life. This waste can prove fatal for fish and other creatures. Apart from this, the foul smell and toxic elements emanating from the rotten garbage are also becoming a threat to the health of the people living nearby.

Drina was once the identity of tourism

There was a time when Drina river was famous for adventure sports and rafting. Clear water and beautiful valleys made it special. Today the same river has become a symbol of environmental negligence. Cleanliness campaigns are carried out, but every year with rains and floods new garbage gets accumulated again. Unless a solid waste management system is made, this problem will continue to grow.

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