Filenews 17 July 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
While we are measuring damage from the devastating and deadly fire in the mountainous areas of Limassol and Larnaca on the weekend of 3 and 4 July, which looks likely to cost more than €130 million, the Republic of Cyprus is running to take action. The plans have been completed and now the whole effort aims to better shield the Department of Forests against forest fires, before another large fire comes that will burn forest land and leave behind devastation, like the previous ones.
In order to reduce the devastating effects on the natural environment, protect property and avoid losing other human lives, investment is focused on prevention in the fight against fires. In the coming years Cyprus will raise funds to protect against forest fires. Measures are included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan with the available allocation reaching €18 million. between 2022 and 2026 and through the State budget for the three years 2021-2024 € 10 million will be used to support the implementation of the programme.
In recent days we have focused on the crucial role of aerial firefighting instruments in the effort to effectively and timely extinguish fires, as well as on the need for Cyprus to acquire its own fleet of flying instruments. The Department of Forestry has two firefighting planes and rents two more. The goal is as next year enhanced with two more privately owned planes.
Recently, the Commission approved the inclusion in the ASA of a specific project amounting to €18 million. to enhance forest protection capabilities, including the purchase of a new aeroplane. Furthermore, the State budget for 2022 included provision for the purchase of another aerial firefighting instrument by the Republic of Cyprus. The two new aircraft will cost €8m. The proposed investment covers two Air Tractors that can carry 3,000 litres of firefighting material.
Measures to strengthen the fire prevention and response framework include the purchase of fire trucks, tractors, agricultural tractors, trucks, as well as drones and an intercom system between services.
Specifically, through the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan, as well as the state budget, a total of 20 large fire trucks will be purchased at a cost of €4 million. as well as 35 medium-sized fire trucks worth €3.2 million. Please note that all vehicles will be equipped with GPS. In addition, the purchase of 10 new tractors with a total cost of €2.4 million is foreseen, as well as 9 agricultural tractors worth €720 million. Through the state budget, two new trucks will be purchased from the Department of Forests, as well as three snowplows/fire trucks worth €1.2 million. As part of the gradual replacement of personnel transport vehicles, provision is made for the purchase of 129 new double-cars, SUVs, etc at a cost of €3.8 million.
In the ASA there is provision for the installation and operation of a TETRA telecommunications network system with a budget of €295,000, as well as the purchase of three UAVs/drones €216,000. A €1m allocation is also included for implementation of part of the vegetation management plans.
The Recovery and Resilience Plan has also included the purchase of four rubber excavators, six shredders, four loaders and six tanker vehicles with a total value of €2.37 million.
After the construction of the first channel in the area Kokkinotrimithia – Mammari has been included, there is a budget of €200,000 for work required in infrastructure.
