At the center of a fierce controversy for political and environmental reasons was the proposed project for the construction of photovoltaic parks with a capacity of 26 MW and energy storage units of 16 MW in the community of Alektoras in the Limassol district, during today's session of the Parliamentary Committee on the Interior.
The issue concerns, among other things, the imminent uprooting of thousands of olive trees and the cutting down of centuries-old cypresses, causing strong reactions from MPs, state agencies, environmental organizations and residents.
MP Panikos Leonidou expressed his personal concern, stressing that he visited the area three times in 15 days. "We are erasing the natural space," he warned, while underlining the need to support renewables in a way that does not destroy the environment. He wondered about the way the permits were granted, amid serious environmental and urban planning concerns.
The position of the president of the Ecologists' Movement, Stavros Papadouris, was also sharp, who made very serious accusations against the Department of Environment. "You are the only ones who gave a positive opinion, while all the other bodies were negative," he said, addressing the representatives of the Department.
He accused the Department of "hiding behind the connection projects" to avoid taking responsibility for the impact of the project itself. "We are talking about serious effects on the environment and the landscape, which you are trying to degrade, at a time when hundreds of trees are being destroyed and an entire ecosystem is being disturbed," noted Mr. Papadouris, calling for stricter environmental legislation and a freeze on all similar projects until a new strategic framework is formed.
The Commissioner for CAPO, Andreas Kyprianou, spoke of "many and big questions" regarding the positive opinion of the Department of Environment, despite the universal opposition of all the other services involved. "This is a huge photovoltaic park. There are loopholes in the legislation. The scorched earth will turn green again. The use of frames will look like a lunar landscape," he said.
Ifigenia Theodosiou from the Department of Urban Planning and Housing stated that the photovoltaic park was rejected after evaluating all the data put before the Department. It is noted that the subsequent letter of the Department of Environment after the positive opinion was taken into account.
The officer of the Department of Environment, Neoklis Antoniou, defended the actions of the Department and argued that the project was examined based on the previous RES Order, which was in force at the time of submission of the applications. He explained that since the Department of Environment represents the state in the courts, before making final decisions, it substantiates its position.
He admitted, however, that the positive opinion was given under strict conditions, including the preservation of the cypress trees and the transplanting of the olive groves.
However, based on data presented, 2,187 citrus trees have already been removed, with an additional 4,835 olive trees expected to be removed. It is also estimated that around 650 cypresses, aged 15-35, out of a total of 6,500 surrounding the plot, will be affected.
The environmental organization Terra Cypria pointed out that the area also includes exclusion areas, as a result of which the environmental approval is considered extremely problematic. The photovoltaic panels will reach 43,338 units, replacing 5,755 olive trees, 2,187 citrus trees and 650 cypress trees that act as a hedge.
An official from the Department of Agriculture expressed his opposition to the installation of RES on arable land. He called for priority to be given to industrial zones, pointing out that "we will end up making farmers electricity traders, at the expense of agricultural production".
The Game and Fauna Service reported that it did not take a position during the examination of the environmental study since the supplementary documents it had requested were never submitted by the designers. However, he noted, the development of such projects must be done in a way that ensures the protection of the natural environment and wildlife, especially in areas with rich biodiversity. The Service pointed out that the issue of connecting the project to the electricity grid can have a greater impact on the environment than the photovoltaic park itself. The issue of utilizing industrial zones was also raised, with a proposal for prioritization instead of agricultural land.
The community leader of Alektor stated categorically opposed the project and stressed that all the Departments involved had initially expressed a negative opinion. He also denounced the irregular destruction of citrus fruits and called for transparency in the procedures.
