Strike over new quarrying rights

A section of the Limassol-Paphos motorway will be closed on Tuesday morning due to a protest by quarry workers to demand new quarrying permits.

Employees in the concrete production sector at quarries will hold a warning two-hour work stoppage from 7 to 9am on Tuesday citing the lack of quarrying sites, especially in Paphos.

The protest aims to demand the government issue new quarrying permits in the Androlikou area in Paphos since the reserves in the existing permitted areas have been exhausted.

“We want a new quarry zone in the Androlikou area something that we have been promised for two years and despite the occasional assurances nothing has been done so far,” the representative of the Paphos Concrete Production and Quarrying Companies, Olga Athinodorou told CNA.

She noted that only in Paphos the problem is particularly acute due to the depletion of reserves, while in the other districts there are some reserves and expansion of the quarry zone.

However, a very serious issue arises from the fact that the reserves of some quarries have been completely exhausted.

“It is getting to the point where the little sand in the last remaining quarries, we do not know who will be first to pick up the load.”

Despite the assurances received and commitments made from time to time, the problem is yet to be resolved and as everyone realises it is becoming more acute, she added.

During the two-hour work stoppage, the Limassol-Paphos motorway will be cut off near Ayia Varvara.