An increase in the volume of fresh water and the illegal dumping of rubbish has created conditions that may lead to the gradual loss of Akrotiri’s wetland, chairman of the House environment committee Charalambos Theopemptou warned on Wednesday.
Environment Department director Theodoulos Mesimeris said rubbish had indeed been dumped and a fine of €20,000 had been imposed.
The environment committee MPs visited Makria lake, a few kilometres east of Akrotiri salt lake, and later held a meeting at the Akrotiri environmental centre, with the participation of state services, municipal authorities, the British bases and environmental organisations.
“It is obvious that many knew the sources of the pollution, the problems with the rainwater, the fact that there are indications that sewerage is flowing into the salt lake, the fact that the salt lake is full of canes and there is no room left for the birds,” Theopemptou said.
He added that due to the downgrading of the wetland, the number of flamingos had diminished, from a few thousands over the past years to just a hundred lately.
“I am very disappointed over the fact that the services could see all this damage happening, the years passing and no one doing anything,” Theopemptou said.
He also referred to various developments without proper studies.
“I am afraid that with the developments permitted nearby, we will slowly loose the Akrotiri wetland,” he said.
Theopemptou said everyone should undertake their responsibilities and those polluting should be sued.
Mesimeris said immediate measures should be taken to restore the area to its former state.
He spoke of a four-pillar action plan, starting from rainwater and fewer developments, stopping sewerage flowing into the lake, imposing the law regarding illegal activities and monitoring the environmental indices.
The House environmental committee also visited the sewerage treatment plant at Vati, where it was informed about the pollution of the neighbouring Polemidia reservoir with sewerage.
Theopemptou said Vati was an example of what can happen when there is bad management and indifference.
He said Polemidia reservoir was also being polluted by water flowing from the landfill.
Mesimeris said there were indications of illegal dumping of industrial and household fluid waste in the broader area of Vati.
This, he said, could be limited and that fines would be imposed.
(cyprus mail)
