Residents in Mazotos are stepping up protests against a decision to install a mobile desalination unit in the Petounta area, despite assurances from the relevant authorities.
Residents have formed the Initiative Group for the Rescue of Mazotos Coast, which is collecting signatures and planning new protest events, according to Eleni Haili, spokeswoman for the protesters.
Residents argue the installation will affect both the land and marine environment in the area. They are particularly concerned about the seabed, where extensive Posidonia seagrass meadows, considered important marine habitats, are found.
Haili said the project “will destroy a pristine coastline, the last one remaining in the Larnaca district,” adding that residents fear the discharge of brine and chemical waste will damage the seagrass meadows.
Protesters also criticised the choice of desalination itself, arguing that such units are highly energy-intensive and place an environmental burden on the area through the electricity generation they require.
Haili said residents are furious and do not accept compensatory measures in exchange for the unit going ahead. A new round of protests is planned for after the summer holidays.
The community has already taken legal action against the Council of Ministers’ decision, asking the courts to issue an order suspending work on the installation of the mobile desalination unit.
