Plans for new sewerage plant in Nicosia
DISCUSSION on the building of a new sewage treatment plant in the north has taken place, with Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zampelas meeting with the Mayor of north Nicosia, Cemal Bulutoglulari.
Zampelas yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that the current plant, in Mia Milla in occupied Nicosia is 33 years old and is destroying the environment.
“Mr Bulutoglulari was very positive during our meeting and said that an agreement can be signed as soon as the details have been finalised. A feasibility study has show that our plans are viable and absolutely necessary and we have also held discussions with the European Union.”
Charalambos Palantsis, Director of the Project Implementation Unit at the Nicosia Sewerage Board explained that, the existing plant was designed in the late 1960s and was only half completed by the time of the Turkish invasion. It was put into operation in 1980.
He then proceeded to run through its existing problems. “Firstly, there is a terrible odour problem which affects the lifestyle of people living nearby and we have received many complaints.
“Secondly, a lot of erosion has taken place, with water flowing into the soil and contaminating it.
“Additionally, the quality of the water produced by the old technology is poor and is incapable of irrigating anything. The plant is located on the edge of the Pedeios river with contaminated water sometimes travelling as far as Famagusta.”
At the moment, the plant is run by both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. The Turkish Cypriots are in charge of operations and maintenance, while the Greek Cypriots contribute through the UNDP, where they pay 80 per cent of total costs.
The price of the new plant is expected to come to 50,000 euros, with both sides contributing 50 per cent each. The Turkish Cypriots are to pay for their share using some of the 259 million euro EU aid packet they are to receive.
“A new plant is the only way to solve the existing problems,” said Palantsis. “It will also have a bigger capacity so the Turkish Cypriots can expand their sewerage system to remote areas, that currently don’t have one. The existing plant has a capacity of 19,000 cubic metres of water per day, with the new plant able to produce 43,000 cubic metres, which will also be good news regarding irrigation.
“It is the best possible bi-communal project which will serve hundreds of thousands of people in the Nicosia area. If we fail to proceed, for any reason, we will carry on having these problems, which are unacceptable by European standards. There is an obligation to find a solution.”
Mayor Zampelas explained that, “if everything is agreed and the money is on the table, we’ll instruct engineers to start with the design plans immediately.”
It’s estimated that the plant will take around two years to construct.
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