Filenews 4 November 2022 - by Vassos Vassiliou
Taxpayers can pay €30m - €40m. to solve the problem of landslides in Pissouri and this could turn out to be wasted money or the work of stabilization could succeed at a rate of 50%-60%.
The bomb was dropped by an ETEK consultant during yesterday's discussion of the problem before the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs.
Speaking on behalf of ETEK, Mr. Dimitrios Loukides, who also happens to be an associate professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of Cyprus, said that the Chamber had suggested the implementation of some actions to increase the confidence that the projects will perform the role for which they were promoted, but nothing was done. "Our goal was to advise whether the projects planned to be executed will be successful," said the ETEK partner, who added: That is, we may also have the possibility of complete failure. To spend €30 million - €40 million of public money and not achieve anything in the end.
At this point, the chairman of the Committee on the Internal Market observed that the impression the Commission had gained was that there was a common understanding between the services involved as to the procedure and that it had to be followed in order to achieve a positive result.
"There was a common understanding but there were some obstacles, which did not allow inclinometers to be carried out, which are considered important for the purposes of efficiency of the projects that have already begun to be carried out with the completion of the first phase," the ETEK spokesman said. So I think, he continued, that the current estimate of the probability of success of the projects is 50%-60%. That is, we have a 40%-50% probability of project failure. These figures, always, based on my own assessment, he added.
Ms. Lydia Mina, also from ETEK, said that the Chamber had identified the potential problems early on and there was never any question of there being a gap between the first and second phases of the project. Instead, she thought the measurements could have been completed, she said.
Moreover, the Chamber itself sent a letter to the Ministers of Interior and Agriculture in which it characterized the project as of critical importance for the community of Pissouri, since it concerns the safety of existing developments and infrastructure and therefore of the residents and visitors of the area, as well as the protection of the property of a number of citizens.
We believe, the ETEK continues, that it is of the utmost importance to ensure the effectiveness of the measures promoted for the second phase of the project, which has not yet begun. He then forwards to the co-competent Ministers the views of the representative of the Chamber in the Monitoring Group of the soil stabilization study in the area of "Limnes" in Pissouri, as recorded in a letter to the Limassol District Administration. The following are also recorded:
- Need for inclinometers to ensure the efficiency of the eastern stabilizing embankment.
- Finding that the design of the southern stabilizing embankment has been based on unrepresentative or even erroneous assumptions.
The vice-president of the Community Council of Pissouri, Mr. Filippou, argued that ETEK was late in intervening. Moreover, commenting on reports that the community did not accept the creation of a sewerage system, which is considered important in dealing with the problem, in the sense that the water being channeled aggravates the phenomenon of landslides, he said that the community gave its approval for the creation of a sewer two months ago. "For the start of the sewerage works we have already concluded where the biological station will be installed. We are ready to start the work. We sent a letter of consent two months ago."
Previously, Mrs. Zomeni, speaking on behalf of the Geological Survey Department, observed that despite the urgent need to complete the sewerage system, which would address the existence of water and which is considered one of the most serious aggravating factors in landslides, the Community Council refused to consent. Ms. Zomeni also mentioned that in addition to the "Limnes" area, there is also a large landslide in an area of the core of the village, which led residents to leave the area.
The President of the Committee, Aristos Damianou, supported the proposal to appoint an independent third party, if appropriate, in order to conclude on whether the ETEK or the designer of the company carrying out the works is right, in order to give a backstop to where the works should be moved.
AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou said that the problems faced by the owners are real and must be adequately addressed. DISY MP Nikos Sykas, commenting on ETEK's position, said that the risk will always exist but we must not demonize the solutions promoted. DIKO MP Panikos Leonidou said that if the government disagrees with ETEK's position, it must say so and convince the Parliament that the money that will be allocated will not be lost.
The second phase is taxied
Mr. Gregoriou, speaking on behalf of the District Officer of Limassol, said that at the end of October the first phase of the project was completed for €7 million. The second phase is being promoted which will solve the problem, he said, adding that by the end of the year the relevant offer will be announced.
A representative of the Department of Public Works expressed the assessment that by the end of the year the bids of the second phase will be announced and the works are expected to start around June 2023.
On behalf of the Audit Office, Mr. Stylianou expressed concern about the fact that the ETSC considers that the success of the project can range from 50% to 60%. If the ETEK is right, it is like throwing the money away, he said, calling on all those involved to look closely at the whole issue.
An interior ministry spokesperson said ETEK's views were conveyed and commented on by those involved. The prefect disagrees, the interior ministry spokesman added.
The Public Works spokeswoman observed that the behaviour of the soil is unpredictable due to landslides. There is always a question mark as to what is under the earth - he said - to add that he is aware of the concerns of ETF and an effort is being made to ensure that the measures taken in the context of the implementation of the project will be effective. He also said that if the situation is not stabilized, the work of about €8 million will be completed but will go to waste. It is noted that with the last rains, cracks of 30-40 centimetres were created even in the places where piles were placed to stop the landslide. The development reinforces the position of the ETSC that it is possible that the projects carried out may not have the expected results.
Ms. Zoi, speaking on behalf of the owners of the houses that were damaged due to the landslides, said that the problem widens as time goes by. She also said that one solution is to implement the second phase of the project and the other option is to relocate the occupants of the 250 affected homes.
EYEWITNESS
The cuckoo nightingale
The representative of the owners of the approximately 250 houses, suggested that the alternative, if the problem is not solved, is the relocation of the owners. If we assume that a house costs about €200,000 then the cost to taxpayers will be around €50 million,. In addition, the aeolian bag opens, since there are other areas with problematic subsoil. This was one of the reasons why former Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos insisted to the end that the owners had to take action against the businessmen who built the buildings or the engineers who designed them. And the question is where such a process stops, for which the person who invests without first taking self-protection measures is also responsible.
