Significant funding from the Ministry of Environment and Energy to address water scarcity.
It was signed today at a special event at the Ministry of Environment and Energy, by the minister, Stavros Papastavrou the decision to include island municipalities in the program “Drinking Water Supply and Water Management Interventions” under the “Drinking Water Supply and Water Management” axis of the Ministry of Environment and Energy’s Sectoral Development Program.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, the Regional Governor of the South Aegean, George Hatzimarkos, and the New Democracy members of parliament from the Dodecanese, Yiannis Pappas and Manolis Konsolas, from Magnesia, Christos Triantopoulos and Christos Boukoros, from Zakynthos, Dionysis Aktypis, and from Heraklion, Crete, Lefteris Avgenakis.
Also, the mayors of Naxos and the Small Cyclades, Dimitris Lianos, of Amorgos, Lefteris Karaiskos, Skopelos, Stamatis Perissis, Alonissos, Panagiotis Anagnostou, Zakynthos, Giorgos Stasinopoulos, from Viannos, Pavlos Baritakis , and from Leros, Timotheos Kottakis . The mayors of Rhodes, Alexandros Koliadis , and Astypalaia, Nikos Kominas , participated via teleconference. Also participating was the Secretary General for the Natural Environment and Water at the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Petros Varelidis .
This program funds 10 projects in 9 island municipalities with a total budget of over 15 million euros. These new projects will improve water supply conditions in the beneficiary municipalities by reducing water leaks through the repair and upgrading of aging networks, water supply to areas will be expanded through the construction of new networks, and adequate water supply will be ensured in areas facing water shortages through the installation of new desalination plants, as well as the construction of related supporting infrastructure.
Specifically:
In the Cyclades, existing water supply networks are being upgraded on Naxos, and a water reservoir is being built on Amorgos.
In the Dodecanese, desalination plants are being installed on Astypalaia, water supply networks are being repaired and constructed on Rhodes, and desalination plants, along with their associated infrastructure, are being installed on Leros.
In the Sporades, water supply networks are being upgraded on Skopelos, and supporting desalination projects are underway on Alonnisos.
In the Ionian Islands, a drinking water treatment plant is being installed on Zakynthos
In Crete, water distribution networks are being upgraded in Viannos.
Mr. Papastavrou, after signing the decision, stated: “Today, as part of the Drinking Water Supply and Water Management axis of the Sectoral Development Program of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, we signed off on funding for 10 projects on 9 islands across the country, aimed at improving infrastructure and water supply networks. Today’s signing is not a piecemeal measure. It is part of a comprehensive policy for the responsible management of water resources, based on planning, cooperation, and a focus on the regions facing the greatest pressures. It follows the National Water Strategy that we put out for public consultation the day before yesterday. And it precedes the bill to address the fragmentation of water service providers, which is imminent. The government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis has proven that it stands by the regions and especially by our islands. Not with words, but with actions—through funding, projects, and initiatives that improve daily life.”
