The Famagusta District Local Government Organization (DGO) is awaiting answers from the Government regarding the construction of two projects in the Famagusta district, namely the Paralimni-Protaras flood control project, with a total cost of approximately 15 million euros, and the replacement of the Kokkinokremmos pipeline, with a cost of 2,5 million euros, its President Yiannis Karousos told CNA.
Regarding the Paralimni flood control project, Mr. Karousos said that "it is known that these specific projects are not the responsibility of the District Local Government Organizations, but as the Famagusta Regional Development Organization, we have completed the design and will construct it on behalf of the Government as the Contracting Authority. The budget has skyrocketed from 5,5 million euros to 14,5 million and we are awaiting a response from the General Directorate of Development to approve the revised budget so that we can go out to tender."
He described this specific project as "very important and necessary for the Famagusta district and for Paralimni in particular, since" as he explained "this is a project that was initiated by the late Mayor Theodoros Pyrillis. We undertook the project at a very advanced stage of planning, we proceeded with updating it and this was the reason why its construction cost skyrocketed to the amount of approximately 15 million euros," he noted.
He also mentioned that "a lot of work has been done by the EOA and as soon as we have an answer we will proceed with tenders. The project concerns Paralimni and Protaras, since they are areas in which there is a big problem and we need to avoid flooding when there are severe weather events."
We will ask the state, he continued, "to cover 100% of the cost of the project, since the EOAs are responsible only for rainwater and not for flood control. We are therefore awaiting a response from the General Directorate for Development, since the project is being implemented within the framework of the Cohesion Policy Program "THALYA 2021-2027" with co-financing from the European Union."
Regarding the construction of a water transport pipeline from the Dhekelia Desalination Plant to the Kokkinokremmos hill, Mr. Karousos said that "essentially the project aims to meet the water needs and improve the reliability of the drinking water supply system in the areas of the Municipalities of Paralimni-Dheryneia and Ayia Napa."
He added that "during the visit of the President of the Republic to the free province of Famagusta in February 2025, Mr. Christodoulides promised grants and support for the construction of projects, with a total cost of 20 million euros. Subsequently, in a letter from the Presidential Office, they informed us that an amount of 2,5 million euros was approved for the replacement of the Kokkinokremmos pipeline to Ayia Napa, a project that is urgent given that there is a major problem with water," he said.
However, he continued, "despite all my interventions since last summer and several letters that were sent, we were unable to get a response from any competent person on how we will receive this specific amount. We simply received a letter stating that efforts are being made to include this specific amount in the state's supplementary budget for 2025, but since then there has been nothing new," he said.
Responding to a relevant question, Mr. Karousos said that "despite the fact that almost a year will have passed since President Christodoulides' announcements, we are still waiting for an answer on whether this money will be given. This is unacceptable, he said and explained that "everyone knows that the project is urgent, that is, the pipeline must be replaced immediately since we have major water losses, daily, we are proceeding with repairs and in view of the summer season, Ayia Napa is in danger of being left without water."
However, he continued, "no one informs us in writing whether or not this specific fund has been included in the state's supplementary budget, whether it was approved and, most importantly, how we will gain access to this money, so that the project can proceed."
I wonder, said Mr. Karousos, "why we have not had an answer to this issue so far, since the Ministry of Agriculture urged us to proceed with a tender for the project. However, without a written answer on how we will receive this specific fund, we cannot do so."
He described "what is being done with this specific issue as injustice, since", as he explained, "important projects are being delayed for no real reason. The pipeline must be replaced urgently but to date nothing has been done," concluded the President of the Famagusta EOA.
Source: KYPE
