Roadworks and other projects in Akamas are set to be scrutinised as a study is set to be presented on the implementation of terms set by the ad hoc committee, on which Cyprus’ scientific and technical chamber (Etek) now has a seat.

The projects in question, particularly the controversial roadwork network in the unspoilt peninsula, have been on hold since December 2023 pending the implementation of 15 terms aiming at reducing their environmental footprint.

A meeting was held on Tuesday between Etek and the agriculture ministry.

Both sides, led by Etek president Constantinos Constanti and Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou, agreed that replanning the projects was taking too long.

Constanti highlighted to the Cyprus Mail on Wednesday the urgency of transparently replanning and completing the projects, with the participation of all necessary experts and the implementation of best practices and standards.

Etek was invited by the agriculture minister to sit on the ad hoc committee, from where the issue will be sent to the Environment Department, which will finalise the evaluation.

Based on the conclusions, the planning of the controversial roadworks would be redrafted through a scientific approach, and a new invitation for a tender would be announced, so that works could be carried out in line with the recommendations of the studies.

Efforts to revise the plans of other projects will continue.

Etek and the minister will be meeting again soon to set the parameters for the successful outcome of the next steps.

Constanti said that Etek was not satisfied with the length of time needed to launch projects and that “a year later we are still discussing what must be done and how”.

“We all have the obligation to protect Akamas and to ensure that, first, the damage done will be reversed and, second, that any next step will be reverently checked to avoid another similar blunder,” he added.

Etek, he said, would scrutinise the evaluation when it received it and would attend the ad hoc committee with specific proposals.