Residents of the northwestern Bosnian border town of Novi Grad, as well as those of the Dvor municipality in Croatia, told N1 on Thursday that they are shocked with the Croatian Government decision to dump nuclear waste at the nearby Trgovska Gora.

According to a plan on radioactive waste disposal which Croatia’s Government recently adopted, the waste from the nuclear power plant Krsko will be stored in the area despite numerous the protests and petitions by the local population.

Locals living in the general area on both sides of the border fear for their health and the effect it may have on the environment, including the river Una.

One of the residents of Novi Grad said the decision was “scandalous.” He said that it was “unbelievable” that someone could do something like this next to one of the most beautiful rivers.

The nearby river Una is a tourist attraction and thousands visit it every year for white water rafting.

A resident of the Dvori municipality in Croatia also spoke to N1 about the decision.

“Nobody is asking the people,” he said, calling the decision “unforgivable.”

“I have land there, my entire life is there, and just the fact that this nuclear waste will be placed here is stigmatising all of us, the agriculture, the people,” he said.

Bosnia’s Novi Grad municipality has lost the battle with Croatian institutions in the matter.

“Such a location is not considered and chosen if there is a source of water there and we have one on our side,” Novi Grad municipal Mayor Miroslav Drljaca said.

Environmental NGO’s have announced they will submit lawsuits to international courts over the matter.

Croatia’s plan is to store the waste in a military storage designed for weapons and ammunition and not for nuclear waste, said Mladen Trninic from the Green Team.

“The biggest problem is that Croatia has within its Strategy not foreseen additional construction works to adapt the place,” he said.

Another one is that Croatia has not taken into consideration any natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods that could cause the waste to spill into the river and jeopardise not only the natural resources but also 28,000 people living in Novi Grad.

The Una river area is a natural park, a protected area. Fisherman Edib Dzaferbegovic is worried about the animals.

“This is an interesting area with all types of fish,” he said. “It would be a tragedy if something would go wrong, the fish would die and nature would be destroyed,” he added.