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So here it is .... IT IS POSSIBLE TO SORT THE SHIT OUT HERE IN CYPRUS well please please lets see CYPRIOTS ALL PULLING TOGETHER NOW

Deal signed for new bicommunal sewerage plant
By Leo Leonidou

AN AGREEMENT to build a new sewage treatment plant in the north has been reached between Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zampelas and the Mayor of north Nicosia, Cemal Bulutoglulari.

Zampelas yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that the two-year construction project will begin next year at a cost of 47 million euros.

“It will use the latest technology, similar to that used at the two other proposed sites at Anthoupolis and Vathia Gonia, with the result being that we will have three modern sewage treatment plants by 2009, producing tertiary treated water, which will also be good for all types of irrigation,” he said.

He added that a feasibility study has shown that the plans are viable and absolutely necessary, with discussions held with the European Union.

The current plant, in Mia Milia in occupied Nicosia is 33 years old and is destroying the environment.

Charalambos Palantsis, Director of the Project Implementation Unit at the Nicosia Sewerage Board explained that the existing plant was designed in the late 1960s and was only half completed by the time of the Turkish invasion. It was put into operation in 1980.

He then proceeded to run through its existing problems. “There is a terrible odour problem which affects the lifestyle of people living nearby and we have received many complaints.

“Secondly, a lot of erosion has taken place, with water flowing into the soil and contaminating it.

“Additionally, the quality of the water produced by the old technology is poor and is incapable of irrigating anything. The plant is located on the edge of the Pediaeos river with contaminated water sometimes travelling as far as Famagusta.”

At the moment, the plant is run by both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

The Turkish Cypriots are in charge of operations and maintenance, while the Greek Cypriots contribute through the UNDP, where they pay 80 per cent of total costs.
It is believed that both sides will equally contribute to the cost of the new plant. The Turkish Cypriots are to pay for their share using some of the 259 million euro EU aid package they are to receive.

“A new plant is the only way to solve the existing problems,” said Palantsis. “It will also have a bigger capacity so the Turkish Cypriots can expand their sewerage system to remote areas, that currently don’t have one. The existing plant has a capacity of 19,000 cubic metres of water per day, with the new plant able to produce 43,000 cubic metres, which will also be good news regarding irrigation.
“It is the best possible bi-communal project, which will serve hundreds of thousands of people in the Nicosia area,” the Nicosia mayor said.

Zampelas added that once the new plant is up and running, the old site will be converted into a green park.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2006