**Paphos Mayor Calls for Urgent Action Over Hillside Excavation**
Paphos, Cyprus – The Mayor of Paphos, Angelos Onisiforou, has raised concerns regarding ongoing excavation work between the areas of Anavargos and Armos, which he claims is leading to the “demolition” of a local hillside without the necessary planning permission. The mayor's statement was made on Monday, highlighting the urgency of the situation as work continues during the holiday period.
Onisiforou accused the landowner of exploiting the holiday season to carry out extensive excavation and leveling activities undisturbed. “He even takes advantage of holidays so that the work can be carried out undisturbed and completed,” Onisiforou stated, expressing his frustration over the lack of compliance with regulatory measures.
The excavation work reportedly involves significant alterations to the landscape, including the creation of large slopes and deep cuts into the hillside. Such modifications have raised alarms regarding the environmental impact and the legality of the operations, prompting the mayor to call for immediate intervention from the relevant authorities.
Charalambos Pittokopitis, president of the Paphos district government organization (EOA), confirmed that a decree is being prepared to suspend the ongoing work. Pittokopitis emphasized that the scale of the excavation necessitates planning permission, which has not been obtained by the landowner. He noted that the mayor had previously filed complaints regarding the situation, stating that the owner had already been ordered three times to cease operations but had not complied with those directives.
The mayor has underscored the importance of addressing the issue promptly, citing the need to safeguard the surrounding environment and maintain the integrity of the local landscape. “This situation is unacceptable,” Onisiforou remarked, urging authorities to take swift action to halt the unauthorized work.
As the situation develops, local residents and environmental advocates are likely to keep a close watch on the actions taken by the municipality and district authorities in response to the mayor's concerns. The outcome of this case may set a precedent for how similar issues are handled in the future, particularly in areas where unauthorized construction and land alteration pose risks to the environment and community well-being.