Water cuts in Cyprus to continue, says Polinikis

 The latest rainfall in Cyprus and anticipated rain will allow the government to handle the deadlines it has set much easier, as far as water management is concerned, Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Michalis Polinikis has said.

He noted however that it is too early to decide on final measures and whether these will be corrective or whether the Ministry will continue with the water cuts now in place.

“I am optimistic that this summer will be much better than last year’s”, the Minister said, adding “however I want to send a message to Cypriot consumers that we should not feel confident merely because the rainfall has increased our reserves; the water shortage remains a very serious issue.”

Polinikis said that the Ministry’s strategy will remain the same, which is complete independence from rainfall. However some time will be required until all desalination plants are completed and from there on “we will have the possibility to increase our reserves”, he said.

For this reason, the Minister added, “I believe that with collective effort and understanding as well as the seriousness and responsibility of the government and the Ministry, we will slowly solve all vital problems”.

The Water Boards in all major cities in the southern government controlled part of the country (the northern third of Cyprus continues to be under Turkey’s military occupation since 1974) have imposed water cuts in a bid to save water, following a prolonged drought and the minimum amount of water in the country’s reservoirs.

Cyprus has bought eight million cubic meters of water from Greece to offset the effects of the severe drought that has hit the island. The water is being transported by tankers and the whole process is expected to be completed in March.