Limassol, Cyprus. The Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Evel) said the wastewater disruption that prompted an indefinite strike by tanker operators could have been avoided with alternative disposal infrastructure.
Chamber president Andreas Tsouloftas said Evel had warned authorities for at least five years about the need for contingency planning as the Vati Wastewater Treatment Plant undergoes an upgrade.
Warnings to authorities
In an interview with Entrepreneurial Limassol, a periodical published by Evel, Tsouloftas said the chamber had repeatedly sent letters and held meetings with relevant ministers to stress the need for timely planning.
He said the necessary measures were not implemented, leaving Limassol without an alternative wastewater reception facility when the Vati plant reduced operations during upgrade or maintenance works.
Limited reception capacity
Tsouloftas attributed the disruption to inadequate planning and a lack of coordination among the authorities involved.
He described the current arrangement, under which the wastewater reception facility operates only two days a week, as unsustainable.
Tanker operators’ action
The issue intensified after wastewater tanker operators began an indefinite strike and protested outside the Presidential Palace, calling on the government to immediately designate a lawful wastewater disposal site.
The operators said reduced capacity at the Vati plant had caused long waiting times for tanker lorries, overflows and significant difficulties in serving households, businesses and hotels. They said the action would continue until a meaningful solution is found.
