Filenews 29 September 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The construction and operation of a single residential development in the community of Pano Platres, called Guru, will be the focus of today's session of the parliamentary committee on the environment. The proposed project concerns the construction and operation of a 7-storey building (plus ground floor plus mezzanine) and other independent residential units, as well as parking lots, a gym, a spa, changing rooms, a swimming pool and a dining area. The matter will be examined ex officio following a proposal by AKEL MPs Nikos Kettiros, Andreas Kafkalias and Marina Nikolaou.
As found by the competent services, construction works have already begun on the proposed development plots of the project and trees have already been cut down before the project is examined by the Environmental Authority. This fact led the Department of Town Planning and Housing to proceed to the immediate termination of the illegal works through the service of an enforcement notice, until all the necessary permits are secured.
This development is under the microscope of the Audit Office, which, in the context of the investigation of the matter, inter alia, sought the views of the Water Development Department (TAY), which are considered to be important for further developments.
According to the WDD, in the wider area there is the water fence pera Pedio, while the direct area of siting of the project is crossed by two rivers. At least half of the development plots fall entirely within the Nearby Protection Zone (KPP) of the Kouris water reservoir.
The DYS notes the state's legal obligation to protect the sources of water that is either used or intended in the future to be used for human consumption, as well as the water reservoir protection programme, implemented by the DAU, based on the plan it has developed under the guidance of the French expert Dr. Gouisset. In relation to the protection program of the Kouris water reservoir, protection zones, management measures have been defined within the protection zone based on the relevant defined general management measures, and a program of actions within the protection zones. The action programmes aim to minimise as far as possible the likelihood of pollution from existing sources of pollution, which de facto cannot be eliminated or removed.
Therefore, based on the management measures, the anthropogenic pressures of pollution from developments within the CIS and the Riparian Protection Zone (PPP) should not be increased beyond the already permissible levels, based on the existing urban zones. Also, in the process of modifying the urban areas of the local plans and urban areas of the rural policy statement, even for the process of obtaining planning permission by way of derogation, the views of the TAU should be requested and duly taken into account as essential factors in decision-making. At the same time, it is emphasized that the installation of new or expansion of existing severely polluting developments is not allowed.
According to the WDDD "given that the Kouris reservoir is the main source of water supply in Cyprus, with a storage capacity of around 50% of all other water reservoirs, and its water concerns the health of a manifestly large number of Cypriot citizens, even the minimum risk of contamination cannot be accepted. Any measures taken may limit but cannot exclude the risks of pollution of the reservoir by developments within the CIS and the CIS."
Continuing the WDD in a letter to the Audit Office, he notes that "it is obvious that any pollution of the Kouris reservoir will have a very serious impact on the country, creating large deficits in the quantities of drinking water and serious if not insurmountable problems in the water supply possibilities in Cyprus, which is already beset by frequent and long periods of water scarcity with increasing trends. In addition, it is noted that, given the nature of the construction of water reservoirs, their pollution effects are cumulative, while in case of pollution their cleaning is practically impossible. For this reason, the increase of pollution pressures within the protection zones and in particular the CIS and CIPs must be prevented.
Given that the State has a legal obligation to prevent the increase of the risks of pollution of drinking water, the view of the DAU is that the Management Measures are strictly applied within the Protection Zones and any changes in the urban zones, in the building coefficients, etc. are avoided in such a way that the degree of development increases beyond the degree of development allowed under the existing urban development plans in force.
With an enforcement notice, the illegal constructions stopped
The development in Platres has been of concern to the competent authorities since July 2020, when a relevant information form was submitted. Before examining the whole project, an on-the-spot check carried out last October found the start of construction work, as well as the cutting of trees. As a result, a reasoned finding was issued, which calls for the preparation of a full Environmental Impact Assessment Study (IEP). Last June, the requested MEEP was submitted and then new inspections were carried out during the summer, where land clearances, excavations and razings were found, and even the construction of houses in the area of the location of the proposed project.
According to the development company of the proposed project, all construction works, which have already begun, are part of the planning and building permits given by the competent authorities. It points out that planning permission is pending for another phase of the project for which an environmental study was submitted. He also underlines that part of the construction works already carried out within the area of siting of the proposed project concerns retaining walls for the construction of a private road within the framework of a planning permission it held. Four more houses are being built for this purpose.
Subsequently, the Department of Environment called on the Department of Town Planning and Housing to proceed with the immediate termination of the illegal works until the environmental study was evaluated and which works were carried out with permits and which were not. In addition, the Department of Environment notes that a large number of trees were cut down without obtaining the required logging permits from the Department of Forests.
Last August, the Department of Town Planning and Housing proceeded to serve an enforcement notice for the immediate interruption of construction works until the examination of the required by law MEEP and the securing of all necessary permits.
