It remains unknown so far when the restoration project of the Liopetriou River will be completed. Work began in September 2020 and was due to be completed in March 2023.
The last extension given to the contractor expires on January 14. According to information, a new extension is expected to be requested. Delays arise due to financial differences between the state and the contractor. According to Deputy Mayor Liopetriou, the road to Potamos will not be handed over on November 14.
In his statements to Famagusta News, the Deputy Mayor of Liopetriou, Markos Koumis, said that "it is impossible to hand over the road until November 14 since only 100 meters have been completed and another 900 meters remain. The public and professional fishermen will continue to struggle with the dirt road. The project cannot be completed until January 14, 2025."
The Deputy Mayor emphasizes that "the authorities must take the issue very seriously because people in the community are shouting and protesting. A solution must be found to complete the project."
It is recalled that, in the last meeting between the Minister of the Interior and the Contractor, it was agreed that the contractor should immediately provide the necessary documents based on the work he has carried out so far, under the extension now in force, so that payment can be made and proceed with the next phase works on the basis of the schedules, hence the work resumed.
At the same time, dozens of professional fishermen are on the brink of disaster.
The President of the fishermen of Potamos Liopetriou Panikkos Katsiaris said that "it has been two and a half years and we are spectators of the same project, nothing has been done that we asked for, no cleaning has been done, no additional berthing positions, no carnage has been done".
It is noted that the local authorities will receive official information on the course of the project on Friday.