Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov lodged on Friday a complaint with the European Union's directorate general for environment about the high level of pollution from the Kremikovtzi steel mill. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov lodged on Friday a complaint with the European Union's directorate general for environment about the high level of pollution from the Kremikovtzi steel mill in the suburbs of the city.
"It is the biggest polluter of the air, ground and waters in the area that is home to two million people," according to Borissov, who said he lodged his complaint as an ordinary citizen, not as the city's mayor.
The gross violation of the acceptable levels of pollution is systemic and has not abated despite the constant fines imposed on the steel mill.
In particular, the amount of fine particles exceeds the maximum allowed by EU environmental and health standards by between three and six times daily.
The steel mill, owned by India's Ispat, is traditionally blamed for most of the smog layer that covers the Bulgarian capital.