**Mazotos Residents Call for Cancellation of Desalination Plant Plans**
Mazotos, Cyprus – Residents of the village of Mazotos are set to voice their strong opposition to plans for a desalination plant in their area during a meeting with Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis on Wednesday. The local community council, alongside the “Save the Coast” initiative group, is advocating for the complete scrapping of the proposed project, citing environmental concerns and a lack of public consultation.
The “Save the Coast” initiative, which boasts approximately 350 members, has been vocal about its discontent regarding the desalination plant. The group highlighted that the government had previously canceled plans for a mobile desalination unit in Ayia Napa due to significant opposition from the local hotel industry. This precedent has fueled their determination to halt the Mazotos project, as residents emphasize the need to protect the area’s natural environment and coastline.
During their meeting with Minister Senekis, the residents plan to express their frustration over feeling marginalized in the decision-making process. “We are not being taken into account, as if we are third-category citizens,” the group stated, underscoring their commitment to preserving the village’s natural wealth. They argue that the proposed desalination project has not undergone proper public consultation and that the perspectives of both residents and environmental scientists have been overlooked.
Opposition to the desalination plant has been mounting since early this year, when residents organized a protest in January to voice their concerns. At that time, Mazotos community leader Georgios Demetriou Paphitis revealed that an independent study had recommended against situating a desalination plant in the area due to the presence of protected habitats. The community council has since called for the decision to be revoked or suspended, demanding a comprehensive independent environmental impact assessment and a thorough examination of alternative solutions and locations.
The group has specifically pointed to the need for the protection of critical habitats, including the Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, which are vital to the local marine ecosystem. Paphitis acknowledged the severe water shortage facing Cyprus but criticized the government’s “hasty and arbitrary decisions” regarding the desalination project.
In their latest statement, the residents reiterated concerns about the potential impact of the desalination plant on the coastal landscape. They warned that the effects of disturbing the already weathered coastal slope on the stability of the broader area have not been adequately assessed. The group characterized the proposed facility not as a mobile desalination unit but rather as a “heavy industrial installation,” which they believe could lead to irreversible consequences for both land and sea.
While the residents recognize the urgency of addressing Cyprus’ water scarcity, they firmly oppose the construction of a desalination plant on Mazotos’ “unspoiled coast.” They argue that such a project contradicts the government’s stated goals of achieving climate neutrality and sustainable environmental practices.
As the meeting with Minister Senekis approaches, the Mazotos community remains steadfast in its resolve to protect the local environment and ensure that their voices are heard in the ongoing discussions about water management strategies in Cyprus. The outcome of this meeting may significantly influence the future of the proposed desalination plant and the residents’ efforts to safeguard their coastal heritage.