Anti-flooding and other development projects coming up

Today’s press conference as given by the Mayor of Limassol and President of the SBLA, Mr Nicos Nicolaides was held  within the framework of an ongoing effort to inform the public on anti-flooding and other SBLA projects as well as the latest developments and decisions of the Council when it comes to sewerage charges for 2020 on. The aim is to inform the public through the media, with respect and transparency, about the latest developments with reference to the works undertaken for the 2^nd Phase of the sewerage system project.

These days, heavy rain and storms have caused a great number of problems both in Limassol and in other cities of our island.   

The Council has carried out a number of very important rainwater harvesting works by expanding the network of main and secondary underground drainage pipes and upgrading the most important system infrastructure to cover the whole Limassol area. The projects began in 1992 and ended in 2004, with Phases A and B1. The implementation of Phase B2 began in 2006 and projects were initially planned to be completed by 2016. The SBLA has spent more than €50 million on these projects. At the same time, other anti-flooding projects, of a total of approximately €30 million, were also included in the vertical road network project. These projects were designed by the SBLA but were implemented by the Public Works Department.

Following the Eurogroup decisions in March 2013 and the ensuing crisis, most government-funded projects and national grants were put on hold. Unfortunately, following the instructions of the WDD, the Council was forced to postpone and/ or cancel some projects, thus delaying the completion of the Rainwater Harvesting System.

In addition to the release of a state contribution of €16.5 million which will be granted gradually with a contribution of €2 million per year, the Council of Ministers, by decision on 15/2/2017, approved the implementation of new anti-flooding projects of a total cost of approximately €28.5 million in areas currently experiencing serious problems and damage from frequent floods.

The new projects include those that the Council was forced to postpone in 2013 due to the financial crisis and which were already included in signed construction Contracts. These 17 projects, as shown on the map below, include inter alia the anti-flooding project to be carried out between Anagnostopoulou and Evgenios Voulgaris street in Kato Polemidia and that of Patras street in Germasogeia. Improvement works are also scheduled to be implemented in the areas southwest of Tsirio including Havouza where we have had severe flooding problems and damage in recent years, as well as north of the highway in Ayia Fyla and Ekali areas, south of the military camp. As part of these infrastructure projects, two retention ponds will also be constructed at Ayia Fyla and Ayios Athanasios.

At the same time, the Council is pushing for the Evagoras Lanitis Avenue road network construction by the Public Works Department, which will enable the implementation of anti-flooding works in the greater Ekali area.

Unfortunately, it should be noted that the existing complex processes are the main reason for the non-timely implementation of major projects such as the above.