Serbian Villagers Continue Tradition of Cleaning Roadside Near Suva Planina

For another year, a dedicated group of residents from Semča, nestled at the foot of the Suva Planina mountain in Serbia, has taken it upon themselves to clean the roadside leading to their village. This Easter tradition, spearheaded by Miodrag Trajković, saw volunteers collect eight large 'jumbo' bags of trash along a 1.3-kilometer stretch of road. The primary motivation is to ensure that the area is presentable for guests arriving for the St. George's Day celebrations, combating the unsightly presence of scattered garbage and illegal dumpsites that mar the natural beauty.

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Već godinama za Uskrs čistimo prostor pored puta jer je ne želimo da gosti koji nam dolaze na proslavu Đurđevdana vide razbacano đubre i divlje deponije. Na žalost, iz godine i godine moramo da ponavljamo akciju jer se od jednog do drugog proleća smeće nagomila.

Trajković expressed frustration over the recurring nature of the problem, noting that the trash accumulates anew each spring. He pointed out that both local residents and passing motorists contribute to the pollution by discarding items like cans, bottles, and plastic bags. The long-term environmental impact is a significant concern, as these items take hundreds of years to decompose and pollute the local stream, which eventually feeds into the Nišava river, a source of drinking water for the region.

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Ljudi ne razmišljaju koliko vremena je potrebno da bi se jedna kesa ili flaša razgradila u prirodi. U pitanju su stotine godina. Ne razmišljaju ni da smeće bačeno u potok zagađuje vodu koja se uliva u Nišavu, a voda iz Nišave prerađuje se za piće koju piju njihova deca.

The lack of accountability is a major issue, with Trajković lamenting the absence of penalties for offenders. He believes that stricter enforcement, even a few fines issued by the Gadžin Han inspection, could serve as a powerful deterrent. Ironically, some locals even oppose these cleanup initiatives, with one individual questioning Trajković's authority to impose order. This resistance highlights a broader societal challenge where individual responsibility for environmental stewardship is lacking, and the focus remains narrowly on personal property rather than the surrounding natural environment.

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Problem je u nekažnjavaju. Ljudi slobodno bacaju smeće gde god stignu jer do sada niko nije kažnjen zbog toga. Kada bi inspekcija kaznila tri osobe na području Gadžinog Hana, ta vest bi se proširila i sigurno bi se ostali ljudi drugačije ponašali. Za sada je tako kako je.