**Christodoulides Promises Review of EAC Pylon Project After Residents’ Protest**
Pano Polemidia, Cyprus – President Nikos Christodoulides addressed concerns from local residents on Tuesday regarding a planned electricity authority (EAC) pylon installation, promising changes to the project’s design following a protest by families living nearby. The president's intervention occurred during a foundation stone ceremony for the 'Adonis III' residential development, where demonstrators gathered to express their opposition to the proposed infrastructure.
As tensions rose among the residents, Christodoulides left the official event to engage directly with the protesters. He assured them that he had already discussed the matter with the EAC and indicated that modifications to the project would be made. “I spoke with the EAC and the design will change,” he stated, noting that the pylon was situated only ten meters from the nearest house. “It will take a different route,” he added, indicating that officials from the EAC would visit the area on Friday to engage with the affected residents.
The president also sought an update from Polemidia Mayor Andros Theodorou regarding the actions taken by local authorities concerning the issue. Despite the promise of a revised design, residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposed changes, arguing that relocating the pylon merely a short distance would not adequately address their concerns. “You can’t just move the pylon by 60 metres,” one resident remarked, emphasizing that any solution short of complete removal from the residential area would be insufficient.
During the discussion, residents presented a memorandum to Christodoulides, detailing their correspondence with state authorities and the EAC over the past several years. One resident voiced frustration, questioning, “They’re all making fools of us. Would they live next to pylons with their babies?” This sentiment reflected the deep-seated anxiety among the community regarding the impact of the pylon on their quality of life.
The conflict centers around an existing electricity pylon located near the residential development, which residents claim was promised to be removed by the EAC in a written assurance from July 2021. At that time, the EAC had indicated that the structure, located approximately 29 meters from their homes, would be dismantled around 2023. However, residents allege that this commitment has not been fulfilled, and their concerns intensified earlier this month when work commenced on what they describe as a new and higher-capacity electricity installation, situated less than 100 meters from their residences.
According to the residents’ memorandum, the permits for the electrical infrastructure were issued between 2000 and 2011, prior to the construction of the housing development. They maintain that they were never informed about the potential for future expansions of the electricity infrastructure in their area, leading to their current predicament.
In response to the residents’ ongoing concerns, President Christodoulides assured them of his continued involvement in the matter following the upcoming meeting with EAC representatives. He invited community members to engage in further discussions at the presidential palace, indicating a willingness to find a resolution that would satisfy the residents' demands.
As the situation develops, residents remain hopeful that their voices will be heard and that a solution will be reached that prioritizes their safety and well-being. The upcoming meeting with EAC officials is anticipated to be a crucial step in addressing the community's concerns regarding the proposed pylon installation.