Dirty Baltic violates Helsinki resolutions on acceptable pollution levels
According to a report issued by the Supreme Board of Inspection (NIK),
Poland does not comply with many important resolutions of the Helsinki
Convention relating to protection of the Baltic waters. Although 2,150
sewage treatment plants have been built in Poland over the last four years,
pollution levels in the Baltic sea have not improved. According to NIK, the
two floods in Poland, combined with poor regulations and lenient treatment
of polluters, are mostly to blame. NIK inspectors suggest that officials are
too slow in collecting fines from polluting entities, raising suspicions of
corruption. "Of zl. 34.2 million due in penalties for contaminating the
Baltic waters, only zl. 5.5 million has been paid; the outstanding payments,
together with the interest, total zl. 167.1 million" says the report.
(Rzeczpospolita, p.A 10) A.Z.
