Significant delays in the implementation of the “Ktizo” project were highlighted during Tuesday’s meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees, as, three years after its launch, only one new apartment building has been completed, and another is expected to be delivered in November, while the project originally called for the demolition of 43 apartment buildings and their replacement with 19 new ones.
Following the Committee’s meeting, its Chair and AKEL Member of Parliament, Nikos Kettiros, stated that “we are not satisfied with the progress of the plan because only one apartment building has been completed in three years,” noting that the second apartment building is expected to be delivered in November. “If two apartment buildings are delivered every three years, you can imagine how many years it will take to reach 19,” he added.
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Mr. Kettiros stated that the Committee has asked the Department of Urban Planning, the Ministry of the Interior, and all relevant agencies to expedite the procedures. He made special mention of the pending issue regarding the Equal Burden Sharing Agency, which, as he said, must issue a decision regarding funding for beneficiaries who are unable to pay their required share.
According to Mr. Kettiros, the matter remains unresolved, despite assurances that it would be brought before the Agency’s Board of Directors in recent months. As he noted, assurances were once again given during today’s session that the matter would be brought before the Board of Directors for approval.
Referring to the financial cost, he said that, in the best-case scenario, a total of approximately €7 million in contributions is required, while to date €4.8 million has been paid in rent for those affected.
He also noted that it is positive that decisions have been made to relocate residents from dangerous apartment buildings, but solutions need to be found so that the “Ktizo” program can move forward and be completed.
At the same time, he warned that the Committee will exercise stricter parliamentary oversight in the coming period, and, as he said, they will even consider including a relevant note in the state budgets so that the House of Representatives is regularly informed about the expenditures and the progress of the project’s implementation.
When asked whether the government could take full responsibility for the construction of the apartment buildings, Mr. Kettiros said that, if changes to the existing plan are needed, the Committee is prepared to consider them. He noted that all parliamentary groups had supported “Ktizo” and continue to support it, adding that the Minister of the Interior will appear before the Committee next week to discuss any changes that could speed up implementation.
“It’s a shame that people are left in uncertainty or under so much stress and pressure because they don’t have the €20,000 or €25,000 to contribute so that the whole process can move forward,” he said.
Regarding the issues delaying implementation, Mr. Kettiros referred to the contribution, the agreement among the beneficiaries, as well as issues concerning heirs and property rights, which, he said, must be resolved as soon as possible.
DISY MP Giorgos Lysandridis stated in remarks following the session that, three and a half years after the announcement of the “Ktizo” program, problems persist in procedures, planning, public contracts for demolitions, resources, and funding.
As he said, “barely two apartment buildings have been completed,” noting that the plan involves 43 apartment buildings slated for demolition and their replacement with 19 new ones. He noted that nearly half have been demolished or vacated, adding that more drastic action is needed.
Mr. Lysandridis said that elderly refugees cannot be expected to locate heirs in the apartment building where they live, evaluate bids, or finalize plans for the construction of new apartment buildings. He also noted that the Committee requested a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the 358 apartment buildings.
At the same time, he raised issues regarding safety and the protection of property in evacuated apartment buildings that have not yet been demolished, as well as in the commercial centers of these neighborhoods. He specifically mentioned problems in the Linopetra area, where, as he said, large quantities of pallets have been piled up in apartment buildings, creating a fire hazard. He added that the Department of Urban Planning informed the Committee that a contractor had been commissioned to fence off the specific apartment buildings.
DIKO MP Adamos Aspris said that the delays are due both to bureaucratic procedures and to issues arising from the beneficiaries, including family matters.
“Therefore, the procedures must be expedited on both sides,” he noted.
At the same time, he called for ensuring the continuation of the rent subsidy and for its amount to be reviewed, particularly for Limassol. He also called for definitive decisions to be made regarding beneficiaries who are unable to pay their share, noting that in many cases these are elderly individuals or families facing financial difficulties.
Litsa Drousioti, Member of Parliament for Alma, stated that there are significant delays and problems that must be addressed immediately, calling specifically for timelines so that beneficiaries know when they will be able to return to safe and permanent housing.
“The ‘Ktizo’ program must move forward, but it must move forward more quickly, with better coordination, specific timelines, and solutions to the problems that continue to keep families waiting,” she said.
Source: CNA
