By Chrystalla Nicolaou
An open wound remains the deadly fire that broke out last year and in its wake affected eight communities in mountainous Limassol and Larnaca.
Speaking to the Cyprus Times, the community leaders of the affected areas gave the current picture of their communities a year later, while expressing concern.
Most of the community leaders referred to the non-payment of compensation to the owners of plots of land that were not registered with the CMP, while they pointed out that although works have already been carried out, there is still a long way to go to fully restore the fire-affected areas.
Arakapas
"Despite the repair and improvement works done, the appearance of the community will take another five years to recover," said Arakapas community leader Vasos Vasileiou, adding that vegetation has not yet grown and his generation will not see pine trees on the community's mountain range.
In relation to the government's measures of support to the affected people, he said that those who were entitled received compensation, however, the complainants are those who did not have their plots registered with the CMP, thus they were not entitled to receive aid.
Note that in the intervening year, to combat the effects of the deadly fires, repair works have been carried out in the community, flood and erosion control works and more are planned. Vassiliou noted that the end of August the creation of the green point- view in the centre of the village, worth 40 thousand euros, will be completed end of August.
Akapnou
The community leader of Akapnou, Harris Anastasiades, said that a year after the fires, the farmers whose land was reduced to ashes,
He noted that in some of the affected communities - either through donations or with state funding - small fire trucks were provided, which he noted was not the case in his community. He said that he sent a letter to the competent ministry but the request to offer the community a fire truck was not met.
Ora
Ora community leader Aristos Miltiades said that "the farmers of the area are not happy as they are considered very little money received as compensation".
He stressed that "the area is not going to green up any time soon since although some received the compensation, they did not manage to stand on their feet and create viable farms and as a result they abandoned them."
He noted that the five cottages that were burnt to the ground and did not comply with planning regulations did not receive compensation.
Vatsinia
The community leader of Vatsinia, Andreas Gavriel, said that much of the pine forest that was burnt for which some reforestation efforts were not made is difficult to recover on its own.
He added that "the farmers of the community are happy with the compensation they received" and noted that sustainable crops were recreated in the area.
Agioi Vavatsinias
The mayor of Agioi Vavatsinias, Antonis Pantelidis, said that "the farmers who received compensation were fully reactivated" however he noted that "a large number of farmers who were not registered with the CMOA are no longer working since they did not receive compensation".
Pantelidis explained that about 50% of the farmers in the community were not compensated because they were amateurs.
Eptagonia
The mayor of Eptagonia Panagiotis Tsolakis ,said that the pine forest that burnt down will take years to replant and added that tree plantations were carried out in the community.
Regarding the agricultural compensations he explained that "they were given to professional farmers but a large percentage of people who were not registered with the CAG did not manage to come back since they did not receive compensation".
He also noted that for fruit trees, although efforts are being made, they are not yet bearing fruit to be commercialised.
Sykopetra
The Cwinemaker of Sykopetra Charalambous Charalambos said that although within the community there has not been much damage there are complaints from farmers.
According to Mr. Charalambus, some farmers in the community did not have their fields registered with the COAP, making it difficult for them to re-enter the agricultural trade.
Odou
The community leader of Odou, Menelaos Filippou, said that intensive efforts and time are still needed for the affected crops to bear fruit, while he pointed out that tree planting has already been done to green the village.
The Mr. Filippou said that some allowances were yet to be given to farmers, such as the allowance for the salary of their employees, while he added that funds were yet to be given, from the Ministry of Commerce for community redevelopment
Melini
The efforts of farmers in the area are superhuman
to enable them to restore crops said the community leader of Melini Christakis Alekou.
Alekou said that full compensation was not given to people whose houses did not have a road permit or building permit, while he raised the issue of farmers whose plots were not registered with the CMP and as a result they were not compensated.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
