Greens demand answers over Tala ‘destruction’

The Paphos faction of the Green Party on Wednesday denounced the recent works undertaken at a designated green area near Tala, speaking of “irreversible environmental damage”.

In a written statement, the party sought accountability for the works, which sparked outrage among Tala residents last month after diggers moved in and uprooted massive amounts of vegetation, completely denuding a beloved lush green spot in the village.

The gully, an officially designated green area, included a creek and a paved nature trail, with residents estimating that a total area of 2,500 square metres was affected.

At the time, community leader  objected to claims she had acted unilaterally, saying that the works were not carried out illegally but were in fact under the supervision of the forestry department.

In their statement the Greens said that the forestry department was the only authority aware of the specific operations, and yet “was not present, as it should have been, during the works”.

The statement also went on to claim that despite the fact that the works were carried out under the direction of the Tala community leader, “it appears that several members of the community council were” completely unaware” they were taking place.

“As we have been informed, the competent department for this specific case, the water board, on two occasions in the past rejected the community council’s request for intervention in the specific stream,” it further said.

“Nevertheless, we consider its absence in this particular development to be highly problematic.”

 The statement added that the competent departments deny that any trees were cut down, or that low vegetation and bushes were destroyed, with the forestry department itself assuring that it had not given such instructions, but rather that the permits it had granted were for the clearing of encroaching vegetation and tree pruning where necessary.

“This does not seem to have been taken into account,” the Greens said, adding that from visits to the site, it became clear that “environmental disaster is irreversible”.

The party said it has addressed letters on the matter to all relevant departments, and have also informed Agriculture Minister Petros Xenophontos, “who pledged to investigate the matter”.