Ayios Tychonas industrial area faces persistent flooding issues

Members of the House energy and trade committee on Friday visited the industrial area of Ayios Tychonas in Limassol after receiving repeated complaints from business owners working in the area regarding constant flooding incidents during the winter months.

The committee members were briefed on serious issues that have left specific industrial units in despair due to recurring flooding after heavy rainfall for several years.

In the presence of energy ministry officials, firefighters, police and civil defence officers, Limassol municipality workers and representatives of the water board, the members of the committee told the affected business owners that the issue would be discussed at the House committee meeting on energy and trade on January 16.

The president of committee Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis, acknowledged the persistent nature of the problem, stressing that “if immediate measures are not taken, there is a risk of some businesses being wiped out.”

“We have decided that on January 16, the matter will be discussed in the presence of the political leadership. However, until then, the various state services involved, which are not few, must coordinate,” he added.

He pointed out that the committee does not underestimate interim solutions being proposed but stressed that the energy ministry Industry “should coordinate efforts to ensure a permanent solution is ready to be implemented as soon as possible.”

The president of the Limassol Industrialists’ Association Vassos Dimitriadis expressed disappointment “at facing the same problem year after year.”

He said that regular flooding of the premises causes substantial economic losses.

“A year ago, we had a meeting with the authorities, discussed the problem, talked about solutions, but unfortunately, nothing happened after a year,” Dimitriadis said. However, he thanked the committee members for taking an interest in the matter.

“I hope that with the guidance provided during the visit by the MPs, things will take a course for final studies by the public works department, and we will see results.”

Shortly after, the committee members visited the coastal promenade in Ayios Tychonas, which also sustained damages due to heavy rains and high waves.

According to the Ayios Tychonas community leader Pambos Charalambous, the damages are estimated at €200,000 and financial support has been requested through letters addressed to the general directorate of the interior ministry and the Limassol district offer.

The promenade was built in 1995 and it stretches for five kilometres. Expressing hope for a positive response from the government after the visit by committee members, Charalambous said he hopes all the issues will be solved as soon as possible.