Smelly days at an end for Mia Milia

AFTER decades of tolerating the bad odours from the Mia Milia-Haspolat in the Kaimakli and Pallouriotissa area, the director of the Sewage Board of Nicosia, Charalambos Palantzis has said the new Nicosia waste water treatment plant would emit no noise or smell.

“It will be environmentally friendly and won’t give off any noise or bad smells like the old one,” said Palantzis.

The new plant, which will be managed by both communities on the island, will be able to treat waste water from 270,000 residents, using up-to-date technology in line with EU standards, processing about 30,000 cubic metres of water a day.

In addition to this, it will be able to convert the energy content of the bio solids into green electricity and organic fertilisers. Part of the energy produced will go towards the electricity needed for the running of the plant.

Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou on Friday visited the construction site of the new plant, along with various representatives from both communities and members of the European Parliament.

The aim of the visit was to see for themselves the progress that has already been made on the project and “to commend the efforts of this significant bicommunal venture.”

According to Palantzis, since the EU has handed over €25 million for the project they want to see what they are spending their money on. The project is being jointly financed by the Sewerage Board of Nicosia along with the European Union and put into action by the UN Development Programme. Funding for the Turkish Cypriot side is being provided by the European Union in accordance with the €259 million aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community.

Palantzis explained that 70 per cent of the new plant will cover the Greek Cypriot side, and 30 per cent will cover the north.

The first phase of the project began in March 2010 which focused on the design of the plant and the second phase involves the building of the actual treatment plant, set to be completed by June 2012.

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