Residents of Mazotos are calling on the President of the Republic to intervene over a planned desalination unit in their village, citing serious concerns about its impact on the land and marine environment. They will hold a protest on Saturday at 10:30, during which they intend to close a road.
Signatures and request for a meeting
Speaking to the Mesimeri kai Kati programme, as reported by ANT1, Mazotos resident Ms Chaili said 500 signatureshave been collected against the siting of the unit. She stressed that the signatures are not just numbers but represent the voice of the people who live in the area and want to be heard.
According to Ms Chaili, there has been no progress on the residents’ request for a meeting with the President. She said the emails they had sent have also gone unanswered.
“We really are at our limit,” she said, adding that residents have not been convinced by the reasons given for choosing this particular location. “We are really counting on the President to intervene and put an end to this.”
Environmental concerns over the site
Ms Chaili expressed fears of extensive alteration of the natural environment. She referred to excavations, the construction of tanks, works on the slope and electricity installations. She also raised concerns about the stability of the slope and the impact of the works on the coastal area.
“The sea is all we have,” she said, questioning whether residents’ views had been taken into account before planning went ahead.
Consultation and pending court ruling
Ms Chaili claimed that there had been no meaningful consultation and no full environmental impact assessment. She called on the authorities to wait for the court’s decision before proceeding with any works.
She also raised questions about whether alternative options at Moni and Vasilikos had been considered, as well as about the cost of the proposed solution.
Saturday protest
Ms Chaili announced that the protest will take place on Saturday at 10:30, and said participants intend to close a road.
“Let them finally respect us,” she said, repeating the residents’ call for an immediate meeting with the President of the Republic.
