Regarding an article in the domestic press entitled "We will count drowned people due to projects in Chloraka" published on 25/1/2022, which includes reports that do not reflect documented data in relation to the studies evaluated and the environmental impact assessment, the Department of Environment clarifies the following for the information of citizens.
Specifically, in 2013 the Environmental Authority evaluated at a strategic level the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEA) of the Plan for the protection and improvement of the coast of the northwestern Paphos coastal front, in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the Environmental Impact Assessment of Certain Plans and/or Programmes [LAW 102(I)/2005] and issued a conditional positive opinion on 11/7/2013.
The study area of the Plan includes seven (7) sub-areas from Kato Paphos Lighthouse to the Akamas area. Sub-area 3 (Hotel Akti - Hotel Cynthiana) includes the St. George - Laura Hotel area referred to in the article. In this area it was proposed to rearrange the existing works/breakers, construction of four new detached low-crested breakwaters, 80-100m long each, at sea depths of 3-4m, artificial enrichment of the beach.
In this area no measures were proposed to protect bathers from drowning because they were not observed according to the information provided by the competent authorities. In addition to the SEA, additional studies such as the coastal engineering study with mathematical simulations and the marine biology report were taken into account in the environmental impact assessment. Among the conditions laid down in this opinion were the installation of information signs to protect bathers from rip-currents, and measures to raise public awareness of the remaining risk, such as the preparation of a guide.
Subsequently, following the above opinion of the Strategic Study, in 2017 the Environmental Authority evaluated at project level the Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIA) for the protection and improvement of the coast near the St. George and Laura Hotels in Paphos, in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Certain Projects [L.140(I)/2005] and issued a conditional positive opinion on 7/5/2018. The project concerns the construction of a system of five detached breakwaters to protect the coast from erosion and improve the quality of the beach, a solution selected on the basis of a mathematical simulation. Among the conditions set include a coastal monitoring system.
The above studies and opinions are posted on the website of the Department of Environment from 2013 and 2017.
(BG/EHR)
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