Filenews 22 April 2023 - by Ioanna Mantzipia
The rescue of Akrotiri Salt Lake has stalled, with the result that until today no competent Department or Body considers itself responsible to take measures to save the peninsula. The issue was highlighted months ago by "F", noting that for a long time a huge ecological disaster has been taking place at the expense of one of the most important wetlands of the Eastern Mediterranean, the destruction of Akrotiri Salt Lake. A lake which is under the umbrella of the Ramsar Convention.
Competent bodies, such as the Sala and the Limassol Municipality, today declare ignorance of the whereabouts of the burning issue and the opinion requested by the Attorney General, which would clarify which department or ministry has the competence and responsibility to submit a comprehensive management, maintenance, planning and supervision plan to save the Akrotiri peninsula. Despite the fact that a special study was carried out by the Ministry of Transport with specific suggestions for addressing the problem of stormwater management, the study was considered insufficient as the whole issue was not approached holistically and the cementing of future developments in the area and the channelling of additional quantities of water to Aliki were not taken into account.
Eight months have passed since the broad meeting with all stakeholders but to date no actions have been taken, only rainwater measurements by the Water Development Department. On September 28, 2022, the then Minister of Transport Yiannis Karousos had indicated that he would request an opinion from the Attorney General in order to decide which is the competent Authority to undertake the implementation of the study's recommendations, but to date there is no relevant information.
In a communication that "F" had with Mr. Karousos and asked if he received any opinion from the Attorney General, he replied that he did not have any answer and did not remember. He also said that there is a prior opinion with the competent authority of SALA.
On his part, the general manager of SALA, Yiannis Tsouloftas, asked if it is the responsibility of the SALA and if there is a previous opinion, replied that the area in question is outside the geographical boundaries of the SALA, pointing out that he is not aware of whether there is any relevant legal opinion. However, he expressed the willingness of the Sala to contribute in practice to the improvement and conservation of the wetland. He noted that the organization could, under certain conditions, facilitate the competent government departments in the elaboration of the new integrated strategic study for the management of the wetland of Akrotiri Salt Lake
Asked about the issue, the mayor of Limassol and president of SALA, Nikos Nicolaides, noted that there is no information regarding the opinion of state experts on the issue of competence. He said the whole issue will be discussed again with the new transport minister during his visit to Limassol next week.
It is reminded that the uncontrolled siting of new developments in the area and the inadequate management of rainwater, significantly change the quantities of fresh water that reach Akrotiri Salt Lake, resulting in a dramatic change in the ecological characteristics of the wetland, which turns from a lagoon into a swamp during the summer months.
