Many old and abandoned buildings in Pristina pose a great danger to citizens. Damaged structures, cracked walls and crumbling roofs remain exposed to weather conditions and the degradation of time. As the city continues to expand, these neglected buildings remain potential danger for passers-by and residents.
The recent tragic event in Jabllanica, Gjakova, where three minors lost their lives as a result of the collapse of an old uninhabitable house, has raised great concerns about the situation in Pristina as well. Institutions have been faced with demands to act faster and avoid similar risks. The Municipality of Pristina has already started accepting requests to fence off some buildings.
The Director of the Directorate for Security and Emergencies in the Municipality of Pristina, Lulzim Fushtica, said that the municipality is aware of this problem and has taken actions to identify objects that pose a risk. According to him, there are 61 such objects in Pristina.
“In the last two years, we have made records, and we do it regularly for all objects that pose a high risk. We published the last report in December of last year, where these objects were recorded on a regular basis. In this last report, there are 61 houses, 11 walls, and one shop, that pose a permanent problem, and pose a risk. Another issue that should be emphasized is that the problem lies in the fact that we have three categories of objects that are in the capital. The first category are private objects that are with an owner and without an owner, or maybe the owner cannot be found. The second category are objects that are under the protection of cultural heritage, and the third category are objects that are owned by the KPA (Kosovo Privatization Agency)”, said Fushtica.
