Decision to include mainland municipalities and municipal water supply and sewerage agencies (DEYA) from Thessaly, Central Greece, and Eastern Macedonia to the “Drinking Water Supply and Water Management Interventions” program was signed today by the relevant minister, Stavros Papastavrou, at an event held at the Ministry of Environment and Energy.
The decision covers 16 projects in 9 municipalities, with a total budget of 16,618,000 euros, aimed at addressing water shortages, and follows last week’s decision to support 9 island municipalities with 10 projects totaling over 15 million euros.
The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Justice and New Democracy MP for Fokida, Ioannis Bougas, and the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Security and New Democracy MP for Aetolia-Acarnania, Kostas Karagounis, as well as the MPs Christos Kellas and Christos Kapetanis, representing Larissa; Thanasis Papathanasis, representing Aetolia-Acarnania; Athanasios Zempilis, Simos Kedikoglou, and Konstantina Karabatsoli, representing Euboea; from Trikala: Konstantinos Skrekas, Athanasios Lioutas, and Katerina Papakosta; from Magnesia: Zetta Makri, Christos Triantopoulos, and Christos Boukoros; and from Drama: Dimitris Kyriazidis.
Also participating were the mayors of Kileler, Athanasios Nasiakopoulos; Eretria, Nikolaos Gournis; Meteora, Eleftherios Avramopoulos; South Pelion, Michael Mitsikos; Eleftherios Tampouridis, mayor of Kato Nevrokopi; Spyridon Diamantopoulos, mayor of the holy city of Messolonghi; Dimitrios Giannopoulos, mayor of Dorida; and Athanasios Torounidis, mayor of Amfilochia. Also in attendance was the Secretary General for the Environment and Water, Petros Varelidis.
These new projects will improve water supply conditions in the beneficiary municipalities by reducing water leaks—which, in some areas, according to the mayors present, reach 60–70%—by repairing and upgrading outdated networks, increasing water supply to areas through the construction of new networks, as well as an undersea pipeline; adequate water supply is ensured in areas facing water shortages through the installation of new desalination plants, as well as the construction of related supporting infrastructure.
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, stated: “Last week, as part of our efforts to provide drinking water and manage water resources, we included 10 projects for 9 island municipalities totaling approximately 15 million euros, and today we proceeded with the inclusion of 9 additional municipalities from Thessaly, Central Greece, and Eastern Macedonia.
These are essential projects involving the replacement or reinforcement of water supply networks, as well as desalination and denitrification projects, all of which are part of a comprehensive effort to address the major challenge of water scarcity. Water is a public good of strategic importance. Last week, the National Water Strategy was released for public consultation.
This is the first time our country has adopted a national strategy that highlights the strategic importance of water. One thing is certain: to find a solution, local communities, elected members of parliament, regional authorities, and the central government must work together. Water is a public good that we must safeguard for all citizens.”