Filenews 18 March 2021
The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, Costas Kadis, said on Thursday that anyone caught illegally and illegally polluting the environment, following the "Campaign for the Cleanliness of Cyprus", which was approved yesterday by the Council of Ministers, will accept the strictest penalties provided for, to stress that the government in such a case will be "relentless and strict".
In his statements, following his meeting with the Commissioner for the Environment, Clelia Vassiliou and the Commissioner for Volunteering and Non-Governmental Organisations, Giannis Giannakis, regarding the organisation of the "Campaign for the Cleanliness of Cyprus", adopted yesterday by the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Agriculture said that "the situation prevailing in the countryside and around urban areas, in relation to the illegal disposal of garbage , it does not honour anyone and it does not honour us as a civilized society."
As he said, 'the problem is constantly being made more difficult, while the environment and public health are being burdened', to note that the State could not remain uninvolved in this situation.
He called on all citizens to help clean up the place and clean up the living space.
"We are taking the initiative to clean up Cyprus. By decision of the Council of Ministers, an amount of more than EUR 1 million will be allocated to the European Council of Ministers. In order to clean up the countryside, to clean up the areas where there is systematic rejection, to monitor this new situation and to confirm that it will not return to the situation we know today," he said.
Mr. Kadis said that this effort will be developed in cooperation with the Ministries of Agriculture and Interior, but also with the assistance of the Commissioners of Volunteering and Environment, the Ministry of Tourism and other government agencies.
He also said that this effort is expected to evolve in April, noting that "it will aim to clean up the areas, to be indicated by the Local Government Authorities, as areas where there is a strong pollution problem and the garbage will be transferred for management to licensed waste management units."
Referring further to the issue, he said the campaign was structured on three pillars, relating to cleaning, as well as to control and prevent the recurrence of pollution of the site.
He pointed out clearly that 'there we will be relentless and strict', to send the message that 'anyone caught breaking the law, illegally and irregularly polluting the environment will accept the harshest penalties provided for'.
"If they are professionals," he said, "we will go as far as abolishing the permit for the transport of waste. If he is a citizen he will receive the harshest sentences, while the most serious cases will be brought before the court."
For the third pillar he said it was about informing and raising public awareness, adding that "every citizen must function properly, while isolating and stigmatising fellow citizens and behaviours that are not consistent with behaviours of a civilised society".
He called on the media to assist in the effort, expressing confidence that "if we all work together collectively, each of his own, we will see our country cleaner and we will all be able to enjoy it together".
Environment Commissioner Clelia Vassiliou, in turn, said that the situation "not only does not honour us, but also offends us".
"This whole conversation is about our common home and what we have to do is keep our house clean," he said.
He said many cases were recorded every day, adding that the situation had reached an all-time record.
She stressed that the move that is being made today is necessary, noting that efforts are being made to address some issues relating to the prevention of the recurrence of such cases.
"As the Minister has rightly said, the harshest penalties will be imposed on those caught polluting the environment, but there are too many cases that are not substantiated and all these cases create costs for the Republic, for the environment and from then on all these costs must be reduced and the phenomenon must be eliminated," he said.
The Commissioner for Volunteering, Giannis Giannakis, stressed that civil society plays a role in the success of any project.
He noted that "each of us should try to help keep the environment of Cyprus clean, but also be a point of deterrence, denouncing those who pollute the environment".
"Let us become green active citizens, let us become protectors of the environment," he said.
He went on to say that volunteering will once again highlight its value, adding that at points indicated by the competent Ministry - and the area is burdened with dumps - the volunteers will be organized into groups in a communication issued by his office and coordinated by the competent services in order to clean up the burdened areas.
Source: eyenews/CYPE
