The Union of Cyprus Municipalities is calling for the reinstatement of a proposal for the overall management of dangerous buildings, calling on the State, Government and Parliament to immediately proceed with legislative and other regulations, on the occasion of the collapse of a building in Limassol on Holy Saturday.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Union of Municipalities states that it had submitted a relevant comprehensive proposal to the Ministry of the Interior from November 2, 2022, without, as it notes, there being a substantial response.
He also states that the existing legal framework "cannot immediately and effectively address the serious problem of the danger of buildings", adding that the transfer of responsibility from the Municipalities to the Provincial Self-Government Organizations is not enough without the necessary legislative tools.
As he notes, the proposal he reintroduces provides, among other things, for the establishment of an Independent Building Risk Control Body, with the possibility of ex officio intervention or examination of complaints, as well as taking legal measures with expedited procedures.
It also provides for the power of the Agency to require owners to remove the risk within a specified deadline and, in case of non-compliance, to proceed with the repair or demolition itself, in whole or in part.
The Union of Municipalities also suggests that it is possible to take immediate security measures without warning when there is an imminent danger to persons or a risk of material damage, as well as the creation of a special fund, financed by the state, to cover the costs of removing the risk and the operation of the Agency.
At the same time, a mechanism for recovering costs from owners through judicial measures is proposed.
In conclusion, the Union of Municipalities states that "this is not a lack of solutions", but an "unjustified delay in decision-making", stressing that public safety requires a plan, know-how and determination, before, as it notes, there are human losses.
