Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Petros Xenophontos expressed satisfaction on Monday for the progress achieved in anti-flooding works carried out in the communities affected by a recent fire in the district of Limassol.
The Minister inspected the progress of the works on site, accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secratry Andreas Grigoriou and the Limassol district engineer of the Water Development Department Iliana Tofa. According to the information he received, anti-flooding works will be completed by the end of the month.
“On August 28, we had a meeting in Apaisia village with the local communities’ presidents during which we promised to carry out nine flood prevention projects in total. As we saw today, the work continues intensively and we can say that we will deliver all nine projects by the end of September,” Xenophontos said speaking to journalists.
He thanked the Water Development Department and its Limassol district engineer who has worked ‘very efficiently and has adequately completed this work.’
He explained that the main objective of flood control works is to limit the flow and reduce the speed of water so that there are no floods.
He also noted that the total cost of the project amounts to pound 140,000.
In response to a question regarding support measures for the fire-affected areas, Xenophontos said that everything progresses and added that in the coming days there will be decisions on the matter.
When asked if any actions are being taken regarding safety in the road network of the region, the Minister of Agriculture replied that the dangers in the road network have been identified and that in the coming days the competent authorities will work to resolve the whole issue.
On his part, Grigoriou, said that the Department of Geological Survey of the Ministry has already visited the area and has carried out a risk assessment regarding the road network, and from there, instructions are given to the District Administration and the Department of Public Works to act accordingly.
President of the Community Council of Apaisia and President of the Limassol Union of Communities Lefteris Perikli expressed his satisfaction with what has been done so far, while thanking the Ministry of Agriculture, the Minister, the officials and the General Director as well as the district engineer of Water Development Department in Limassol for immediately mobilizing to implement the decisions taken at the August 28 meeting.
“Indeed, the speed with which the relevant authorities acted was very good,” he said and expressed hope that there would be no extreme weather conditions so that the flood control works would help the waters flow.
As far as the compensation for damages is concerned, Pericli said that since the anti-flood works are completed on time, ‘the other promises that were made will also be implemented on time.’
Source: Cyprus News Agency