In the maritime area “Faros” in Pervolia, crews of the Provincial Administration of Larnaca, accompanied by police officers, proceeded today with the instructions of the District, to dismantle two buildings which according to the authorities were operating illegally.
As the Larnaca District Odysseas Hatzistefanou stated, “the properties located on the beach of Pervolia are cases that are examined based on instructions on how to handle them from the Technical Services of the Ministry of the Interior. Based on these instructions, the two properties fall under the cases in which we proceed with either uprooting or demolition,” he said.
He added that with his own instructions from 07.30 in the morning until 12 noon crews of the Provincial Administration completed the expropriation of the first property and then the second would be expropriated as well. Along with the crews, there are also operators of the Electromechanical Service, since these premises operate illegally with generators, which is prohibited, he said.
He explained that “we have been informed that the generator other devices for lighting, for music and refrigerator are connected by cables, which is considered dangerous. I already gave instructions to leave the generators from the area, while as I was informed the illegals have already moved them”.
As explained by Mr. Chatzistefanou, the cases with the two properties in Pervolia “come to be added to the continuation of other similar actions that the Provincial Administration of Larnaca has taken, since a similar property that was operating illegally in the Alaminos area was cleared”.
Recently, he continued, “in the Pervolion area there was a case with a platform which was also dislodged. Still in the area of the 'Lighthouse' in Pervolia there is a case that has been brought to Court for a long time, while a second case will be brought before Court by the Provincial Organization of Self-Government of Larnaca”.
For his part, the Mayor of Dromolaxia-Meneou, Cyprus Andronikou stated that “on this specific issue we had consultations with the Larnaca District as well as with various other competent Departments that are related to the beaches. As a Municipality and as a Mayor, we asked for a small extension of 20-30 days, in order not to inconvenience the people who come to enjoy the sea and cool off with a juice, a water, an ice cream”, he said.
Unfortunately, he continued, “this was not possible and we are in the unpleasant position of demolishing two kiosks today by decision of the Larnaca District and following complaints from the Department of Environment and other competent Departments”.
When asked what kind of permits the specific kiosks located on the beach should have in order not to be considered illegal, the Mayor replied that “because the specific area is in a Protection Zone, according to the Beach Law, it is forbidden to have kiosks which are considered permanent buildings”.
Asked to comment on the fact that the owners of the properties stated that they had signed contracts with the former Community Council of Pervolia and were paying rent and taxes, Mr. Andronikou said that “I will not judge the actions of the former Community Council of Pervolia, I deal with the situation with the existing data. There are indeed some contracts signed, it seems that there are some gaps in the contracts”, he said, and added that “our effort, as a Municipality and as Mayor, is to comply with all the laws and all the specifications regarding the exploitation of the beaches”.
We think, he continued, that “the demolition of the two buildings could take an extension of 20 to 30 days so as not to inconvenience the people who are used to coming here. It is a very beautiful area, the owners of the properties were very good with the management of the space and the people, and we are convinced that an extension could be given so as not to inconvenience the locals and foreigners who come to enjoy the sea”, he said .
Source: KYPE
