Significant findings have emerged from an audit conducted by the Audit Office in the Department of Environment (DoE).
Systemic weaknesses and omissions are noted regarding the management of Natura 2000 areas, as well as other environmentally sensitive areas, and non-compliance with the European and national institutional framework, both by DoE Departments/Services and competent Departments of the Ministry of Interior.
The Special Report documents a series of approvals of town planning applications and changes in town planning zones without compliance with legislation for environmental impact assessment.
● Violations in developments in the Municipality of Sotira in the Famagusta Province, involving breaches of essential terms of town planning permission for Mixed Tourist Development and the construction of holiday homes before securing all required permits and approvals.
● Evaluation of private property with special protection status in Neo Chorio Paphos hastily and without consideration of significant factors.
● Environmental pollution and nuisance caused by the operation of an illegal biological station in Kalopanagiotis.
● Possible abuse of power by officials of the Planning Authority and the Municipal Council of Sotira.
● Involvement of the Community Leader of Neo Chorio Paphos in a decision regarding the passage of a road within a protected area significantly benefiting his property, contrary to the provisions of the General Principles of Administrative Law Law (Law 158(I)/1999).
Furthermore, extensive intervention was found in the Beach Protection Zone and the erection of illegal buildings in an environmentally sensitive and highly significant area in Agios Georgios Alamanou, in the Limassol Province, where the most important breeding cave for the strictly protected species, the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), is located.
Considering the fires that have repeatedly occurred in recycling units in the industrial zone of Yeri-Idalion, the Audit Office expressed concern about the risks posed by the accumulation of a large waste stockpile on-site, as well as the fact that destroyed paper and plastic waste did not undergo proper management, despite the units collecting the relevant fees.
Among the most significant findings of the financial audit is the non-compliance with the provisions of the legislation on the conclusion of public contracts and the principles of transparency and equal treatment of economic operators imposed by the relevant legislation, for the provision of aerial firefighting services using two helicopters by the Forestry Department.
It is also emphasized the non-implementation, by the Mines and Quarries Service (MQS), of an internal control system to verify the accuracy, completeness, and timely collection of revenues from the use of quarry materials.
