Nicosia, Cyprus. Local communities in Cyprus need adequate staff and financial resources to deal with fires during the summer season, the head of the Union of Cyprus Communities, Andreas Kitromilides, said on Sunday. He said village authorities have responsibilities in clearing wild vegetation and illegal dump sites, but also need the necessary tools to carry out the work.
Fire prevention responsibilities
Kitromilides told the Cyprus News Agency that fire management is not only a matter for communities. He said some are trying to argue that responsibility belongs exclusively to the 286 autonomous communities in Cyprus.
“We certainly have responsibilities as local authorities for the cleaning of wild vegetation and illegal garbage dumps but we should also have the right tools, to be able to respond,” he said.
Funding and contractor shortages
He said the interior ministry has provided a budget for the third consecutive year to clear overgrown areas, amounting to €1.5 million this year. However, he said it is often difficult to find contractors to do the work.
According to Kitromilides, community staff are unable to carry out the clearing because there are too few of them and they do not have the proper equipment.
Land coverage and clearance targets
He said communities cover 80% of agricultural land in Cyprus, including forests and mountains. “We cannot say that we will clear 80 per cent of the land, however a large part of it must be cleaned, mandatorily and with the assistance of private contractors,” he said.
The aim is to clear as many plots as possible before the end of June so that communities are ready for the summer season.
Residential safety zone
Kitromilides said the interior ministry requires a zone of about 200 metres to be cleared around residential areas. He added that this may include hills, mountains and other difficult-to-access areas.
Upcoming meeting
Suggestions on how communities can be better supported will be discussed in mid-June, when community representatives meet the ministers of interior and agriculture, he said.
