Head of environmental police Mario Kern reported on Tuesday that the thermal pool complex in Podhajska (Nitra region) has been discharging, without authorisation, polluted water from its pool via waste pipes into the local Liska stream, from which water has flowed into the Zitava River.
According to Kern, the complex has been drawing thermal water without a permit. "The Liska stretch from the site where the water was being discharged up to the point where the stream joins the river is practically dead," noted Kern, explaining that an expert analysis has shown that the dead stretch now contains only microorganisms that live in very specific conditions. Meanwhile, fish and amphibians only survive upstream from the pool complex.
Kern claimed that no charges have yet been pressed in relation to the matter, but an investigation involving questioning is taking place. In addition to the polluted stream, the police are looking into how much thermal water the complex has actually drawn from the source, and whether it's actually paid the state for this fully. Slovak Environment Inspectorate (SIZP) has allegedly found that the complex has drawn more water than it was supposed to. Furthermore, the complex hasn't properly measured the amount of drawn water, which is why it will be difficult to determine how much it should have paid.
Environment Minister Jan Budaj (OLaNO) stated in this regard that he hopes the police will take action as soon as possible and see the case through.
