The Kriva River’s water is seriously polluted and falls into the worst category of polluted waters, making it unusable for any purpose, according to an analysis by the Institute of Public Health commissioned by the “Mrena” fishing association.

Mayor Sashko Mitkovski stated that lead levels are elevated, and zinc and cadmium exceedances are present, rendering the water’s acidity harmful to fish. The concentration of harmful substances prohibits any use of the water, including irrigation.

Mitovski reported that lead concentration reaches 36.65 micrograms per liter, nearly four times the maximum permitted level. Cadmium concentration exceeds the permitted limit by over 20 times, and the presence of manganese and zinc is also concerning. The water’s turbidity is 170 NTU, significantly above the permitted 10, and suspended solids exceed 7,876 micrograms per liter, more than 120 times the permitted level.

The mayor questioned how “Bulmak 2016,” the company managing the “Toranica” mine, can deny a connection between their mine accident and the pollution, given the analysis unequivocally shows the presence of metals used in their production process.

Mitkovski is appealing for a swift reaction from institutions and for the prosecutor’s office to initiate proceedings.