Filenews 26 January 2024
The General Directorate of Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment is moving with the aim of having everything ready in mid-February and putting before the Council of Ministers the new plans for the works at the existing construction site for the improvement of the main road network of the Akamas National Forest Park.
The big challenge for the Directorate-General for the Environment is to complete the examination process before the ad-hoc committee for the Special Ecological Assessment, which has been convened for 31 January 2024, within the timetables. After examination by the members, it is estimated that there will be a differentiation of terms of the previous opinion of the Environmental Authority and, therefore, changes will be made to the final design of the projects, based on the recommendations of the competent committee.
Within the framework of the decision of the Council of Ministers, the existing contract is run by the Department of Forests, under the guidance of the General Directorate of Environment, while, at the same time, the procedures for undertaking the next phases concerning the road network and infrastructure nodes by the General Directorate of Environment are running.
Before the ad-hoc committee for the Special Ecological Assessment, the advisory note of the expert study group, consisting of three professors of the National Technical University of Athens and a representative of ETEK, will be presented. The special report of the study group does not explicitly mention and therefore does not clearly recognise the problem of infringements of the legally binding and essential conditions of the environmental authorisation. However, recommendations for corrective measures and remedial actions are clearly included in the experts' report.
The report proposes immediate measures to safeguard the already implemented – unfinished works in the civil works, mainly, including the necessary markings, from possible severe weather events during the period January – March 2024 that may create significant surface runoff, rockfalls and landslides. It is proposed to maintain the ecological character of the area taking into account the studies approved so far, as well as the interventions that have been implemented.
For the 9km coastal road. (Aspros Potamos – Lara) It is noted that the construction of walls for safety reasons must take into account the unhindered passage of vehicles and visitors. Furthermore, it is noted that the construction of (low) walls towards the mountain should be significantly reduced, only to the bare necessities in combination with the risk of rock falls and landslides. It is further emphasized that the walls indicated during the site visit and not in accordance with the condition of environmental approval should be removed. It is suggested that the excavation of the bedrock should be done very sparingly. Limit excavation in rocky subsoil while reducing the base layer to 30 cm. Particular attention is proposed to be paid to the restoration of the landscape at points where a quantity of embankments was discharged into undisturbed ground (e.g. in front of landforms in the White River) in violation of the condition of the environmental opinion.
The experts propose a reassessment of existing excavations and stress the need to check the planned pavement (crashed and run) and possibly search for an alternative. At the same time, they suggest reducing the final range of occupation of the road to what is absolutely necessary, with the required backfilling of the scope of unnecessary occupation and proper planting with plants that thrive in the area.
They note that the water supply of the area of interest, from the area of Pegeia with good quality drinking water, should be limited by tankers to the necessary quantities. as these will be determined by needs accordingly. The experts recommend that the already constructed water supply projects should not be used, without, however, proposing their dismantling. Furthermore, they suggest that the existing water supply should remain as it is in the subsoil and not continue, without again asking for its removal.
At the same time, they say that in case of fire incidents within the protected area, care should be taken to ensure the necessary quantities of water from existing or new boreholes managed by the Department of Forests. If these quantities are not deemed sufficient, in cooperation with the Geological Survey Department and Water Department, drill boreholes at points that will ensure the required quantities. Furthermore, they propose that the Geological Survey Department investigate new boreholes for water supply for fire nests.
In relation to the 4km road. (Toxeftra – Avakas – Lipati) suggest that the works to be carried out should take into account the existing range of occupation of the road, traffic safety and the avoidance of damage to ecosystems on both sides of the road. They propose to immediately correct (reduce cross-section) the technical study in the four-kilometer branch (section) by identifying the necessary adjustments so that the construction works can proceed.
