TECHNICAL Chamber ETEK has openly accused the state of inertia and of tolerating alleged daily discrepancies in its town-planning policy.
In a written statement published in yesterday’s Politis, ETEK named a large number of illegalities and points out that, in a concealing manner, certain advantages are favoured while the same thing does not apply to the average Cypriot.
It was also noted that “delays in the issuing of city planning and construction licences have exceeded all acceptable levels, resulting in the demolition of the law and the creation of a chain of problems in the construction development of Cyprus.”
Talking to Greek daily Politis, ETEK president Christos Efthyvoulou said that things have gone too far. “The situation has come to a head. We must have order and for that reason we are obliged to speak out, and show present things as they really are.”
He also claimed that city planning illegalities have become a rule. “The Town Planning authorities and local councils are in complete inertia; they are just observing the situation, favouring their intimate local interests and ignoring the interests of the rest of the public. Town planning politics are adjusted in accordance to the applicant.”
ETEK list in their statement the following examples of selective city planning policies:
• Municipal Councils issue licences knowing that they are breaking the law and then issue postponement orders to cover their tracks, something they already know will not be put in effect
• Most hotels are in operation illegally. According to ETEK officials, 90 per cent of hotels present illegalities in their height, additional appliances, floors and square area of the building.
• Buildings for public services are illegal. Some public service buildings are unsuitable and in some cases unsafe.
• Quarries and other factories are wrongly situated, having an ill effect on the environment and blocking usage of the surrounding area.
• The IMC continues to operate illegally.
• Transparency is non-existent. Tangible example is that of department store Jumbo in Nicosia, which was built after completely exhausting the City planning Manager’s discretion. The same company attempted to build a store in Larnaca but the same procedure ceased following the intervention of ETEK.
No one from the government was available for comment yesterday.
