Greens accuse government over golf courses

THE GREEN Party yesterday accused the government of planning to bypass environmental and town-planning procedures for desalination units to ease the way for more golf courses in Cyprus.According to the party’s general secretary, George Perdikis, a bill submitted by the government to the House Environment Committee provided the cancellation of environmental studies and town-planning procedures for those interested in building desalination plants.But Perdikis said this was a back-handed way for the government to allow the operation of golf courses.“The government’s attempts to cancel all environmental and town-planning control over the creation of so-called small desalination units are scandalous,” said Perdikis. “The government is essentially offering natural resources to the capitals of private businessmen.“We say the control proceedings should be sped up and not cancelled.”Parliament has already told the government that this will lead to a huge environmental scandal, he explained.“Those whose applications for golf courses were rejected by the Exemptions Committee will, based on this bill, be able to go ahead and build them.”
(Cyprus Mail)