The municipality of Paralimni was recently targeted by the Ecologists' Movement and other competent bodies for "serious interventions" on various beaches that fall within the boundaries of the municipality. Interventions for which the Mayor of Paralimni clarifies that they are made with the unanimous decision of the Municipal Council and that all works are done for the safety of bathers as the municipal authority cleans the debris from the beaches.
The prefect of Famagusta George Chrysafinis He said in a statement that the law does not provide for administrative fines for operations on beaches. The only thing that can be done is to ask for the compliance and restoration of the space to the previous state as much as possible, he pointed out.
Mr. Chrysafinis admitted that the complaints in free Famagusta mainly concern the local authorities and less of the individuals and that he received several complaints concerning the municipality of Paralimni.
"On February 20, we have a meeting under the Famagusta provincial administration, which will be attended by local authorities and all relevant services so that we can find a way to address these problems as soon as they arise," he said.
He added that 3-4 cases of interventions will be put on the table by the municipality of Paralimni, such as the expansion of the beaches, the structures that are placed around, the so-called dirt sidewalks and the accesses to the beach created by the municipality of Paralimni.
He added that a legal opinion will be requested for further handling of the issue.
For his part, the mayor of Paralimni Theodoros Pyrillis, stressed that "anyone who disputes the legality of the actions of the municipality which are carried out after unanimous decisions of the municipal council, has the right to go to court."
Mr. Pyrillis attributed to the cleaning of rubble carried out by the municipality on the beaches what is said about arbitrary interventions. He argued that "the law on beaches gives us the power where there are bathers to do such projects to ensure their safety and comfort."
He also threw the ball of complaints at businessmen and hoteliers who, as he said, do not want interventions in front of their premises, to conclude that some are trying to demonize the municipality of Paralimni.
Environmental organizations are also involved in the issue. The vice-president of the Ecologists 'Movement - Citizens' Cooperation Efi Xanthou claimed that the municipality of Paralimni is interfering illegally again on the coastal front in the area of "Glytzia Nera" in the bays of Kappari.
He claimed that he brings sand to the beach by sucking it from the bay, installs rainwater culverts on the beach and intervenes in the natural springs of the area, in breaking rocks and in pouring concrete at the bottom of the bay.
"All this", he continues, "without studies, without supervision by competent authorities, without having obtained any permission to intervene on the protection zone of the beach".
He also mentioned that the movement sent letters to all the competent services, the prefect of Famagusta but also to the municipal council of Paralimni.