PARLIAMENT yesterday called on the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) to take immediate measures to help the communities surrounding its electricity production station in Dhekelia.
Residents, especially those in the Dhekelia refugee estate, have had enough of the noise and pollution produced by the station.
The House Commerce Committee also told EAC representatives to also fund the animal protection organisation Argos, which is also active in the area.
The EAC issue was tabled for discussion by AKEL, DISY, DIKO, EDEK and the Green Party.
During the meeting, deputies asked to be informed on the measures taken by the EAC to support the area’s residents.
The community leader of nearby village Ormidia, Panayiotis Pouis, said recent meetings between all bodies involved had proved fruitful and commonly accepted solutions had been found on a number of matters. These solutions, he added, were funded by the EAC.
Furthermore, Pouis said there was a list of construction projects in the works, including plans to build a communal park for the refugee estate.
But Pouis’ claims raised a heated reaction from the refugee estate’s residents. Their spokesmen said the demands were seldom taken into consideration either by the Ormidia community, or the EAC.
The Committee completed a list of demands, which will be sent to the EAC Board of Directors. It included a demand that the area’s communities be sponsored to carry out works that will improve the environmental damages caused by the station.
Speaking after the meeting, Committee Chairman Lefteris Christoforou of DISY said the area’s communities were suffering from the pollution and adverse effects of the station.
“It is time the EAC took on its social responsibilities and fixed this situation,” said Christoforou. “This station is undermining the quality of the residents’ living conditions. The EAC said it would improve the situation. The Committee has committed to closely observing the matter.”
EAC Spokesman George Shammas said there was no way to move the station, though he added that there were plans to upgrade it. He also pointed out that the station would later operate with natural gas. Until then it was working under the strictest regulations, as laid out by European laws relating to emissions.
Shammas also claimed the EAC operated under full transparency. A number of meetings had taken place with the surrounding communities, during which a number of works have been approved and will be funded by the Authority, he said.
Argos representatives briefed deputies on the shelter they maintain in the area, which has so far taken in 68 stray dogs and 120 cats.
This costs the organisation thousands of euros a year and it yesterday sought funding from the EAC.
