For a Year and a Half We're Living in Smoke from a Pizzeria: Residents of 15 Franklin Roosevelt Street Ask the Prime Minister to Intervene

Residents of the building at 15 Franklin Roosevelt Street in the Municipality of Karpoš in Skopje say that for a year and a half they have been living in conditions of constant smoke and unpleasant odors from a pizzeria operating in their building.

In this building with only seven apartments, according to the residents, the problem has been reported several times to the Municipality of Karpoš, but no concrete response has been received. As a result, they sent a letter to Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in which they request an urgent intervention by several state institutions due to long-standing environmental, construction and sanitary problems arising from the pizzeria's operation.

Residents demand inspections and prompt measures

According to the residents' account, the pizzeria's chimney is installed very close to the apartments and daily emits thick black smoke and greasy soot that penetrate the homes, even when the windows are closed. They point out that because of this they cannot open the windows or use air conditioners, and as evidence of the serious pollution they cite the drying out of a multi-year tree near the chimney.

"Every day we are exposed to thick smoke, soot, noise, vibrations and traffic chaos, which has violated our right to normal and safe living. The pizzeria's chimney, installed in immediate proximity to the building, emits thick black smoke and greasy soot every day that penetrates the apartments even when the windows are closed. We cannot open the windows or use air conditioners, and as proof of the serious pollution there is the drying out of a long-standing tree located near the chimney," say the residents.

They request environmental, construction and sanitary inspections to carry out checks and determine whether the pizzeria's operations violate regulations and endanger the health and living conditions of the residents. As they point out, the lack of a response from municipal services forced them to seek intervention from government and central institutions.

Photo: SDD.MK)