Irrational exploitation, production and use of fossil fuels unconditionally lead to climate changes, while Bosnian rivers are being rapidly devastated, local environmentalists have warned on the World Water Day, marked on March 22.

Bosnia faced major consequences of these climate changes in 2014, when the larger parts of the country were hit by severe floods, said the Development and Support Centre.

“This is happening due to uncontrolled use of fossil fuels, mostly coal, and increased construction of new hydro-electric power plants,” the environmental association based in the northern city of Tuzla warned on Friday.

They also said that emission of hazardous and carcinogenic substances from mines directly affect both the surface and ground waters, causing the decrease of water level and endangering the health of the population.

The association warned that accumulative hydro-electric power plants change natural water courses into artificial ecosystems where existing organisms cannot survive.

“That leads to permanent loss of fertile ground, degradation of upper flow of the rivers, disappearance of water biodiversities and drop in the water quality with creation of the pond effect,”said Tuzla environmentalists, urging all competent state institutions to take over responsibility and start fulfilling the obligations from the Agreement on Energy Community in the part that refers to negative effect of fossil fuels and hydro energy on environment and health.

The UN General Assembly declared March 22 the World Water Day in a 1993 resolution, which is observed every year across the globe to raise awareness and warn of the problems related to water and water resources.

The theme for the World Water Day 2019 is ‘Leaving no one behind’ which is the central idea of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.