The execution of the development projects in Cyprus usually stumbles at the citizens’ reactions or the businessmen’s appeals. Under the pressure of the upcoming recession, the House Transport Committee examined today the procedures that are followed for the development projects. Talks focused on the complicated procedures and the sources of delays that in certain cases might reach ten years due to the citizens’ interventions and appeals.
Speaking before the Committee, Transport Ministry General Manager, Makis Constantinides stressed the need to improve the procedures so as to achieve the target for an increase in the rate of execution of the projects from 75% to 85%. “The crisis is just one step behind and the procedures must be accelerated”, he said.
Mr. Constantinides expressed the officers’ disappointment on the citizens’ interventions, which may stop the progress of a project for up to 10 years.
“The reactions of all those who intervene because they believe that their personal interests are piqued and the excessive sensitivity that we show as officers have resulted to the huge delays in the promotion of the procedures”, he said.
Mr. Constantinides also characterized the delay in the Revisionary Authority of Tenders as a traumatic experience, stressing that too much time is spent for the issue of a decision. “Decisions might take 2 years”, he said.
At this point, Chairman of House Transport Committee, Zacharias Koulias requested by the members and the competent officials to examine the possible strengthening of the Authority with legal and technocratic support.
Explaining the procedures that are followed, Mr. Constantinides defended bureaucracy, stressing that it secures the implementation of the same rules for all.
Nicosia District Officer, who represented the Interior Ministry Manager in his capacity as Chairman of the Tenders Council, Argyris Papanastasiou said that “it is difficult for the district authorities to find contractors for small or distanced projects”.
Huge delays are also observed in the Environmental Authority, which needs up to 6 months to take a decision on a preliminary environmental study and a year to adopt a full environmental study. “During the environmental study, the expropriation procedures start and are followed by the construction plan and the tenders”, Mr. Constantinides added.
Indicatively, Mr. Papanastasiou referred to the example of the three vultures, which were poisoned until the study is completed.
“During the effort for the protection of the vultures at Saittas – Limassol road, some poisoned them until the study is completed”, he said.
Both Messrs. Constantinides and Papanastasiou agreed with the MP’s proposal for the appointment of a coordinator for each project, who will have the necessary power to coordinate the promotion of a project effectively.
The coordination of the urban planning projects currently belongs to the district officer, while the technical coordination belongs to the public works.
Speaking before the Committee, Transport Ministry General Manager, Makis Constantinides stressed the need to improve the procedures so as to achieve the target for an increase in the rate of execution of the projects from 75% to 85%. “The crisis is just one step behind and the procedures must be accelerated”, he said.
Mr. Constantinides expressed the officers’ disappointment on the citizens’ interventions, which may stop the progress of a project for up to 10 years.
“The reactions of all those who intervene because they believe that their personal interests are piqued and the excessive sensitivity that we show as officers have resulted to the huge delays in the promotion of the procedures”, he said.
Mr. Constantinides also characterized the delay in the Revisionary Authority of Tenders as a traumatic experience, stressing that too much time is spent for the issue of a decision. “Decisions might take 2 years”, he said.
At this point, Chairman of House Transport Committee, Zacharias Koulias requested by the members and the competent officials to examine the possible strengthening of the Authority with legal and technocratic support.
Explaining the procedures that are followed, Mr. Constantinides defended bureaucracy, stressing that it secures the implementation of the same rules for all.
Nicosia District Officer, who represented the Interior Ministry Manager in his capacity as Chairman of the Tenders Council, Argyris Papanastasiou said that “it is difficult for the district authorities to find contractors for small or distanced projects”.
Huge delays are also observed in the Environmental Authority, which needs up to 6 months to take a decision on a preliminary environmental study and a year to adopt a full environmental study. “During the environmental study, the expropriation procedures start and are followed by the construction plan and the tenders”, Mr. Constantinides added.
Indicatively, Mr. Papanastasiou referred to the example of the three vultures, which were poisoned until the study is completed.
“During the effort for the protection of the vultures at Saittas – Limassol road, some poisoned them until the study is completed”, he said.
Both Messrs. Constantinides and Papanastasiou agreed with the MP’s proposal for the appointment of a coordinator for each project, who will have the necessary power to coordinate the promotion of a project effectively.
The coordination of the urban planning projects currently belongs to the district officer, while the technical coordination belongs to the public works.
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