Plans for phase one of the Paphos to Polis road and the construction of a permanent desalination unit for the district are at an advanced stage, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday on an all-day visit to Paphos.
The president, accompanied by a number of ministers and other government officials reviewed the progress of infrastructure projects in the district.
Anastasiades said that as regards phase one of the Paphos to Polis Chrysochous road, the environmental study and construction drawings concerning the 15-kilometre Ayia Marinouda to Stroumbi road – estimated at a cost of €71.4m – are at an advanced stage while the tender competition is expected to be announced toward the end of this year. He added that works for the redevelopment of the existing road are set to begin this month and be completed in 13 months. Phase two is expected to begin in 2019 and be completed by the end of 2020.
The president said he is well aware of the problems faced in Paphos due to water shortage and that the agriculture ministry has already announced a bid for the construction of a new, “permanent” desalination unit.
“At the same time, we are in the process of constructing, in addition, a new mobile unit, while the interconnection projects of the Evretou – Kanaviou – Asprokremmos water reservoirs totalling €4.4m, with an expected completion in October of this year, are progressing,” he said.
Anastasiades also said that the short delay in the announcement of the Akamas master plan, was due “to our wish to shape a comprehensive strategic national plan for the Akamas.”
This, he said is expected to be done in March 2019, two months after the University of Thessaly delivers a study on “what is allowed and forbidden as regards development” in areas within the Natura network.
“I want to reassure the communities of the Akamas area that we will be in constant consultation so that 2019 will be the year when there will be a definite end to the uncertainty and the outstanding issues that arise as a result of the need to protect nature,” Anastasiades said.
As for the Paphos marina, the president expressed his sorrow, “because a project which could have contributed significantly to the tourism growth of Paphos and which could have been completed a decade ago, has become an object of legal disputes.”
As a result, he said, the damage due to the delay, is affecting businessmen and the tourism industry of Paphos in general.
If new problems arise concerning past procedures, he said, the government is determined to cancel the tender bid and launch a new one based on new data which must be taken into consideration since 12 years have passed since the initial tender.
On the erection of a new state high school in the centre of the town, Anastasiades expressed regret that, despite the “decisive stance of the government on the construction of the project” there is delay due to disagreements between local authorities and organised groups.
He said the competent committee filed a proposal just last week, which will be assessed by the education ministry. The aim, he said, is for procedures to get underway the soonest possible.
As for phase two of the road leading to the Paphos airport, Anastasiades said he has given instructions for a redesign of the construction drawings and their approval by the competent state services, based on recent suggestions by the Paphos mayor.
In total, Anastasiades said, in 2016 and 2017, improvement works on roads in municipalities of the Paphos district amounting to €7.3m have been implemented, while €2.2m have been earmarked from the 2018 budget.
As regards communities of the district, 10 projects totalling €7.98m announced in 2015 and 2017 have been completed. In addition, 20 projects totalling €19m are being implemented and seven new projects are underway, at a total cost of €9.75m. In addition, 38 communities in Paphos benefited from the execution of 46 small improvement projects, totalling €1.44m, he said.
At 7.30pm he was to inaugurate the Markidio municipal theatre.
Anastasiades said both his government and him personally are paying great attention to the support of local communities and the improvement of their quality of life.
He said that the annual state aid to the Paphos local authorities amounts to €9.8m, but that his administration is willing to review that amount provided the reform of local government carries on.
The reform, he reiterated, is necessary to avoid practices of the past that left municipalities cash-strapped. He said that a new round of consultations has been launched on his initiative in the hope of all political parties reaching a consensus on the reform.
He was accompanied by the ministers of the interior, finance, energy, education, transport, agriculture, the undersecretary to the president, the government spokesman, the secretary of the cabinet and the director of his office.
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