Filenews 26 April 2024
Important findings emerged from an audit carried out by the Audit Office in the Directorate-General for the Environment (DG). There are systematic weaknesses and omissions in the management of areas of the "Natura 2000" Network, as well as other environmentally sensitive areas and non-compliance with the European and national institutional framework, both Departments/Services of the General Secretariat of Agriculture and co-competent Departments of the Ministry of Interior.
The Special Report records a series of approvals of planning applications and changes of planning zones without complying with the legislation on environmental impact assessment.
● Illegalities in developments in the Municipality of Sotira in Famagusta District, interests of a specific politically exposed person, concerning violations of essential terms of planning permission in Mixed Tourism Development and the construction of holiday homes before obtaining all legal permits and approvals.
● Assessment of private property with special protection status in Neo Chorio Pafos with sloppiness and without taking into account important factors.
● Causing environmental pollution and nuisance from the operation of an illegal biological station in Kalopanayiotis.
● Possible excess of authority by officers of the Planning Authority and the Sotira Municipal Council.
● Involvement of the President of the Community of Neo Chorio Pafos in the decision to cross a road within a protected area that significantly favours his property and which is contrary to the provisions of the General Principles of Administrative Law Law (L.158(I)/1999).
Furthermore, a major intervention was found in the Beach Protection Zone (SPA) and the construction of illegal buildings in an environmentally sensitive and of great importance area in Agios Georgios Alamanos, in the Limassol District, since there is the most important habitat cave for the strictly protected species, the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus.
Taking into account the fires repeatedly observed in recycling plants in the industrial zone of Geri – Dali, the Audit Office expressed its concern about the risks posed by the accumulation of a large stock of waste at the site, as well as the fact that the waste paper and plastics destroyed were not properly managed, although the Units collected the relevant fees.
The most important audit findings are noted the non-compliance with the provisions of public procurement legislation and the principles of transparency and equal treatment of economic operators imposed by the relevant legislation, for the provision of air firefighting services using two helicopters by the Department of Forests.
It is also stressed that the Department of Mines and Quarries (YML) does not implement an internal control system to verify the correctness, completeness and timely collection of royalties from the use of quarry materials.
