In a letter dated 2/7/2015, the MP of the Movement of Ecologists-Citizens' Cooperation, George Perdikis, asked for explanations from the then Minister of Agriculture, Nikos Kougialis, for the operations on the beach of Ammos tou Kampouris. In his letter, George Perdikis states: "I have personally visited the site of Ammos tou Kampouris in Ayia Napa and I have noticed the widespread destruction of the natural environment of the area. A great destruction has been caused in the relief of the rocky beach, while a closed bay was created with a large excavation. I ask the competent Minister to inform the House of Representatives whether he is aware of the damage caused to the site "Sand of Kambouri" in Ayia Napa, if any permits have been granted for interventions in this area and what are the proposed measures to take for the removal of the illegality and the restoration of the original relief of the beach. ”
The Municipality of Ayia Napa has been complaining about the works since 2012
In a reply letter dated 11/11/2015, the then Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Nikos Kougialis informed that in June 2012 the Municipality of Ayia Napa informed by letter to the Director of the Department of Environment that in the location "Sand of Kambouris" work was carried out and removal of rocks from an excavator in order to create a harbor, without obtaining permits from the competent authorities.
The Director of the Department of Environment replied to the Municipality of Ayia Napa that any work within the beach protection zone is the responsibility of the Prefect of Famagusta, according to the law on beach protection (Chapter 59), which is required to intervene immediately in their licensing or demolition. in case of illegality.
At the same time, he informed that based on the Environmental Impact Assessment by Some Legal Projects [L.140 (I) / 2005 to 2014], such projects require the preparation of a Preliminary Environmental Impact Report (PEEP), which, however, in case which are not immediately interrupted, will not be considered.
On May 10, 2013, the Prefect of Famagusta notified the Department of Environment to the Police Director of Famagusta, with which he denounced the operations that took place and continued in the specific area.
The Department of the Environment sent a new letter to the Mayor of Ayia Napa, informing him again that such projects were based on the Environmental Impact Assessment of Certain Projects [Law 140 (I) / 2005 to 2014]. It is necessary to prepare a Preliminary Report on the Impact on the Environment (PEEP) and therefore the competent authority should take the necessary steps to identify those responsible and take measures to remove the illegal interventions and fully restore the environment.
On August 31, 2015, the Municipality of Ayia Napa convened a meeting on the subject, in which various services participated. The Department of the Environment reiterated the above and called for immediate action to be taken and for the necessary coordination to take place in order to restore the natural environment.
Complaints to the Police about the interventions
In a letter on 19/9/2016, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Ionas Nikolaou, informs the MP of the Ecologists Movement that on 21/6/2012 in the evening, following a telephone complaint for rocking at the location "Sand of Kambouri" in Ayia Napa, An Famagusta District together with the District Secretary of the Ecologists' Movement went to the area where they found that rocks, rocks, vegetation were removed from the sea and a jetty was created without obtaining permits from the competent authorities. The perpetrators could not be located after they managed to escape from other parts of the beach.
As mentioned, in cases where the interventions concern works within the Beach Protection Zone, according to the Law on Beach Protection (Chapter 59), the competent authority for combating the illegality is the relevant prefect and therefore the Deputy Prefect Famagusta made a relevant complaint to the Famagusta Police Director.
At the same time, the Municipality of Ayia Napa, as the competent authority for the interventions that were carried out illegally, without securing the relevant licenses, filed a complaint with all the competent services, including the Departments of Environment, Water Development and Land Registry.
The Department of the Environment, in a letter, requested that the interventions be terminated immediately, as Article 15 of the Environmental Impact Assessment by Some Legal Projects, [N.140 (I) / 2005 to 2014], requires preparation for such interventions. Preliminary Environmental Impact Report (PEEP) for further examination by the competent Committee.
As mentioned in the letter of the Deputy Minister of Interior, the Municipality of Ayia Napa took the initiative and a relevant meeting was held on 31/8/2015 with all the involved Departments, during which the problem that was created and how it should be addressed was discussed in detail.
Famagusta.News