No settlement has been reached for restoring water to the village of Trachypedoulas-Prastio, which has had its water cut for a month, officials said on Friday.
According to Paphos district spokeswoman Mary Lambrou, the problem with the water supply to Prastio was not the responsibility of the district administration or the ministry of the interior but the exclusive responsibility of the community council and the local irrigation committee.
The village authorities need to reach an agreement and to pay the electricity authority (EAC) the amount owed, Lambrou said. Nonetheless, Paphos district officials had intervened with all parties to resolve the dispute.
The water has been cut after the bill to operate a pump for it to reach the village has nit been paid.
“We attempted to advise both local entities and mediate with EAC,” Lambrou said, adding that the EAC had agreed to restore electricity on condition of receiving a minimum payment of €3,000, and a written commitment from the irrigation committee that they would gradually repay the outstanding €12,000.
Members of the irrigation committee went to the Paphos EAC office on Thursday intending to pay €1,000 but EAC refused to accept this amount.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Lambrou explained that the irrigation committee had the means to raise additional funds via the collection of taxes and water consumption fees, in which they could be more pro-active.
According to Lambrou, efforts to resolve the matter continue, in the hopes that an agreement between the community council and the irrigation committee can be reached.
A few months ago, Lambrou said district officials had approached the water board to request separation of community drinking water supply from the irrigation supply, as the accounts and water provision are currently merged.
The water board, she said, informed them that a new borehole had been dug in Diarizos with district funds, and was a few months away from being serviceable, however, this would not obviate the need for the local community to come to terms of payment.
Prastio is a small community with three permanent residences and around six summer residences. Currently, Prastio residents receive their potable water from a water truck.
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