AKEL Parliamentary Representative letter in support of the recent fire victims
29 July 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
Following the day-long tour of an AKEL delegation to the fire-affected communities of the mountainous regions of Larnaca and Limassol, which took place on Thursday, 22 July 2021, AKEL Parliamentary Representative Giorgos Loucaides today sent letters to Ministries and Services, on the subject of providing support to residents, farmers and other affected people.
Inter alia:
– Briefing is requested on the Government’s plan for the creation of anti-flood/anti-erosion works, a matter which is urgent for the safety of residents and to avoid further destruction of the area. Briefing is also requested on the conclusions of the specialised scientific team headed by Dr. Efthymios Lekkas as to the measures that should be taken to deal with possible flooding, erosion and landslides.
– A proposal by AKEL for an advance payment on the estimated damage suffered by professional and non-professional farmers as a result of the fire, as many of them do not have the necessary capital to start the process of restoring their production, has been submitted.
– Briefing is also requested with regards the Forest Department’s plans for anti-fire zones and the widening of rural roads for the passage of fire engines, as well as on the Post-Fire Management Plan for burnt land being prepared by the Department.
– Briefing is requested on the actions taken by the Ministry of Agriculture for the creation of a Special Plan, within the framework of the New Agricultural Policy (2021-2027), to provide support for farmer’s investment activities in the affected areas.
– AKEL’s proposal to the Cyprus Electricity Authority for the application of a special electricity tariff for residents and farmers affected is submitted.
– A request has been made to the Ministry of Interior to contribute to the financing and installation of oil generators in local community boreholes in areas with a high degree of fire risk.
