The Chairman of the Board of the Center for Studies and Research AKTI, Civil Engineer / Coastal Engineer, Dr. Xenia Loizidou gives an answer to the reactions caused due to the announcement she issued regarding the coastal projects that are starting on the coastal front of Chloraka.
According to a newer announcement, “it is tragic that the coastal zone of Cyprus is being sliced into pieces and the studies each time concern a small part with 4 or 5 breakwaters”.
The proposed chain of breakwaters starting from Geroskipou and ending in Pomos, with the exception of the Akamas area, is a cumulative environmental disaster, he argues, “only if we think about the huge quantities of precious limestone that this monstrous chain needs.”
A breakwater, she adds, needs an average of 3,500 (thousands) cubic meters of boulders, indicating that entire mountains will be leveled for these structures and that only this should be discarded as a solution. He added that with the method of “salamiization” all the effects are reduced, piece by piece.
According to Ms. Loizidou, “this coast is notorious for its danger, and a simple search on the internet could shed light on the drownings of the past.”
The statement of the Department of Environment that “in this area no measures were proposed to protect bathers from drowning because they were not observed according to the data of the Authorities” raises great concern, he notes.
He mainly adds, because below in the announcement he refers to the dangerous currents, informing that a guide will be prepared to inform the bathers about the danger of the sea.
Ms. Loizidou also states that the coast is not eroded, it is rocky and that the coastline has been stable for at least 200 years.
The breakwaters, he adds, are not suitable projects for such shores, unless extensive rockfalls are involved, which they did not see in the study.
He reiterated that such infrastructure is not at all in line with the government's announcements for green transformation and green economy, stating that the place needs modern infrastructure.
Among other things, he states that “the coast of Chloraka is not suitable for bathers, but it is excellent for water sports, diving tourism, cycling, gastronomic tourism, etc.” “The beloved sunbed can be combined with decks on the beautiful rocks. “Malta is showing the way,” he suggested.
Source: KYPE
