Two prominent environmental organisations are calling on the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment to honour its commitment to end systematic sediment disposal from fishing shelters in the Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias marine area.
Terra Cypria – The Cyprus Foundation for Environmental Protection and Friends of the Earth Cyprus have demanded the ministry take immediate action to ensure public access to environmental information, citing fundamental environmental rights.
The organisations argue that the recently announced dredging contract for the Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias and Pomos fishing shelters contradicts the government’s own Green Community initiative, which was set to begin in Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias.
They emphasise the inconsistency between implementing proper waste management infrastructure whilst continuing sediment disposal practices in these marine areas.
The environmental groups have urged the ministry to respect the unanimous decision made by the Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias Community Council on October 13, 2024, which strongly opposed the disposal of sediment and organic material from dredging operations in their marine area.
The organisations have submitted several queries to the ministry, seeking clarification on various issues including the compatibility of the new dredging contract with previous commitments, why land-based disposal methods were not considered to avoid marine pollution with carcinogenic heavy metals, and the status of septic tank maintenance at the fishing shelter.
They have also requested updates on planned infrastructure improvements, including the construction of a sewerage system for the broader Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias community and measures to address structural issues with the fishing shelter’s main breakwater.
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