Kornos residents pledge to fight asphalt plant in area

Residents of the Pyrga and Kornos warned MPs on Wednesday that they would take legal measures if a building permit is given to operate an asphalt producing plant in their area.

Discussion of the impact of the plant on residents’ health continued at the House environment committee for the second time. Outside parliament, residents, including monks from the Stavrovouni monastery, were protesting against the plant.

Speaking after the meeting, committee chairman Akel MP Adamos Adamou said that the town planning department, after receiving the green light by the authorities on the environmental impact of the plant, had no choice but to issue a building permit.

The position of the environment department is crucial for issuing a town planning permit, and in this case it was positive, Adamou said.

But despite reassurances by state services and independent studies, residents warned that they would take legal measures if a permit is issued.

The committee will also invite the experts who carried out independent studies to present them their findings.

The head of the environment department told MPs that the operation of the unit would not affect the aquifer layers.

Government departments pledged earlier in the month not to issue any permits as long as the matter was being discussed in parliament.

The area is already located near a quarry which has been operating for more than 30 years.

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