The Nicosia EOA is awaiting a grant of approximately 2 million euros to address safety hazards in unsafe buildings. As the President of the Nicosia EOA, Konstantinos Giorkatzis, told CNA that he is awaiting instructions from the Ministry of the Interior on how to submit the application for the allocation of the funds.
This funding had been approved for the Municipality of Nicosia by the Fund for the Revitalization of Remote Areas for the purpose of eliminating hazards in unsafe infrastructure, according to Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos; however, following the local government reform, it was transferred to the EOL, as the Organization assumed this responsibility. Speaking to KYPE, Mr. Pruntzos noted that the Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that this specific allocation concerns the municipal district of Nicosia, as it comes from the Fund for the Revitalization of Peripheral Areas.
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Although the allocation of the funds is still pending, the Municipality and the Nicosia Urban Planning Authority have proceeded with joint inspections of buildings, Mr. Prountzos said. He explained that the Municipality already maintained a registry for certain buildings and that the joint inspections streamline the process. He added, however, that the two agencies share responsibilities regarding such buildings, since the Municipality handles issues related to nuisances, while the EOA is responsible for safety hazards.
Mr. Prountzos also highlighted the difficulties faced by the Municipality in cases involving dangerous buildings where nuisances are also present, since it is prohibited from taking any action to address the problem due to the risks posed to its staff. He also emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting that, as he said, nuisance conditions can entail either health hazards or a risk of fire in such buildings.
The President of the Nicosia EOA told CNA that letters have already been sent to owners of buildings deemed dangerous or found to be in need of repairs, urging them to take corrective measures. Depending on the response received, it will become clear whether—and in which cases—the EOA will need to take action.
According to the updated data from the NCC’s Nicosia registry of hazardous buildings, there are 656 hazardous buildings and 55 buildings in need of repair throughout the district, of which 171 dangerous buildings are located in the Nicosia municipal district, where 28 of the buildings in need of repair are also located.
ETEK President Konstantinos Konstantis told CNA that, as part of the Chamber’s advisory role, it has established a three-member committee to provide advice regarding the findings of professionals who identify a building as hazardous. The aim, as he explained, is to assist the EOA in cases where there is a dispute over an engineer’s findings, in order to avoid legal proceedings.
Source: CNA
