House Environment Committee members on Wednesday called for the immediate implementation of a study on the comprehensive policy of the effective protection and management of Akrotiri Peninsula, Philenews reports.
And this should include the area between Cherkez Tsiflik, Zakaki, Asomatos and Trachoni which is under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus but falls within the Akrotiri water basin.
The basin includes the Akrotiri Salt Lake, Fasouri Field and Zakaki Wetlands which are under the administration of the British Bases.
Environmentalists and MPs have expressed concern over the effects of development plans in the area warning that these could undermine the Akrotiri aquifer.
During the debate, representative of the Cyprus Federation of Environmental Organizations requested the study’s immediate implementation as a minimum measure to mitigate the potential impact on the basin of Akrotiri Wetlands.
They fear uncontrolled large-scale residential, holiday, commercial and tourist development there.
The “Integrated Management Study of Storm Waters in the Akrotiri Salt Lake – Cherkez Tsiflik Area” was prepared in July 2020 and approved by the Department of Environment in consultation with the Department of Public Works.
