The meeting of the residents of the first phase of the “Adonis” housing project with representatives of the EAC at the Polemidion Town Hall ended without a positive outcome, after the residents’ protests and the intervention of the President of the Republic on the issue of high voltage pylons in Pano Polemidia.
With the use of maps and topographic plans, its representatives EAC they explained the process expected to be followed while listening to the strong concerns of the residents. They also presented timetables for the implementation of the projects, which include, as a temporary solution, the relocation of a pylon located at a very short distance from residences, while at a later stage the undergrounding of the electric transmission line is foreseen. As mentioned, the implementation of the final design requires the cooperation of other competent services, as well as the registration of a new road.
However, residents appeared dissatisfied with the explanations they received.
The resident of the area, Marina Theodorou, said:
“We had a meeting today at the Polemidion Town Hall. We listened to the views of the EAC and there was an exchange of views, but we are leaving without being happy or satisfied.
We were told that the pillar which is only 29 meters from our houses ia moved in about a year and a half and that the new pillars are an interim design, who will be removed in five to six years. But we believe that this timetable will be extended.
This is not what was discussed with the President of the Republic. We do not know who the President contacted to give us the assurances that the pillars will be removed. We were certainly not told that this would happen in five or six years.
By then our children will have grown up. We cannot wait for health problems to occur due to our exposure to electromagnetic fields to take action.
Our next step is to seek a new meeting with him President of the Republic.»
From the side of the EAC, the press representative Christina Papadopoulou stated:
“The final design calls for moving this section of transmission line to a more northerly point, approximately 1.5 kilometers away from its current location, which is very close to residential areas.
As a temporary solution and for the benefit of the residents, EAC will move part of the existing line that passes over their houses. The line will be moved about 80 meters further, as a first stage, as there are delays related to the opening of a specific road and the involvement of other relevant Authorities.
Once the required procedures are completed, EAC will proceed at a rapid pace with the complete dismantling of the existing line and the installation of the new one, a large part of which will be underground.
To assuage residents’ concerns, we will ask the University of Cyprus to carry out electromagnetic field measurements on both the existing and the new temporary line. Although the movement may seem small, the measurements show a significant difference in the levels of the electromagnetic fields.
Our goal is to protect the residents of the area. The first section of the line is expected to be removed early next year, while the complete removal of this section is planned for September 2027.”
