The tourist Protaras has been presenting heartbreaking images in recent days, after the recent disaster that hit the area, in combination with the closed hotels, shops and places of recreation, left behind the signs of desolation and abandonment.
However, the Municipality of Paralimni has already given orders since last week and the intensive cleaning of the tourist resort will start tomorrow.
Roads empty of people, dusty shop windows, fallen signs, grass and papers on the sidewalks, is the image that Protaras presented yesterday. Two or three people were crossing its ruined streets, while in the square only one cat was walking. The contrast in relation to the bustling state that hardly sleeps and pulsates with life during the summer months is overwhelming. Asked to comment on this image, the Mayor of Paralimni, Theodoros Pyrillis, said that Protaras really gives the image of an abandoned city, however, he assured that from a week the beaches will be crystal clear.
He added that the crews of the Municipality of Paralimni work all year round and take care of the area of Protaras on a weekly basis, noting that in the last few days there was a very strong sea turbulence and the sea took out a lot of dirt on the beaches, while the main boulevard was badly damaged shops and on the road.
"Orders have already been given since last week and the crews are proceeding with the necessary actions to clean the area. The beaches were ordered to start cleaning first. "From tomorrow, the crews will start work", he said.
He also said that the delay in cleaning was due to the Christmas and New Year holidays, noting that the working days during the holidays were very few.
He explained that at this time in Protaras everything is closed, so the Municipality of Paralimni decided not to pay overtime and to leave the cleaning of the area for after the holidays.
He also pointed out that the crews of the Municipality regularly clean the area during this period, adding that due to the limited number of people who worked during the holidays, the Municipality was limited to cleaning the areas that are still alive in the area and are inhabited.
Extension of the tourist season
Referring to the extension of the tourist season, the Mayor of Paralimni said that the agreement for free ethers between Cyprus and Russia for the coming years is a positive development for the winter tourism of free Famagusta.
Answering a question, Mr. Pyrillis said that the Municipalities of Paralimni and Ayia Napa are already making coordinated efforts to extend the tourist season by at least two months, starting in 2014.
Efforts are already being made to start next year 's tourist season in March instead of April, with the ultimate goal of keeping the area alive until the end of November, instead of the end of October, he said.
In the area of Protaras at the moment only one hotel remains open, which hosts organized groups of Russian tourists, while in the whole main boulevard there is not a single shop open.