“We need the broadest possible consensus for a spatial planning reform” says George Stathakis

Environment and Energy Minister George Stathakis called for broad political consensus to tackle the long-standing problems bedevilling spatial planning in Greece, while talking to the state broadcaster ERT on Sunday. He also noted that civil protection was for everyone, regardless of whether they had built illegally or not, but was currently not up to the challenge presented by extreme phenomena.

“We are not ready to deal with such an extreme phenomenon and for this reason, the civil protection system needs to be overhauled,” he said.

He pointed out that 90 percent of illegal or unauthorised construction in Greece was in Attica, Halkidiki and one or two other areas, while noting that current legislation was actually quite strict with those who built without proper planning permission and allowed no legalisation on land that was classified as either coastal or in forest.
Talking about fire-stricken Mati, he pointed out that the seaside resort could not be rebuilt along the same lines.
On restoring power to the burnt areas, Stathakis said that the power company had restored the operation of 80 pct of sub-stations and 6,200 grid connections but electricians would now have to carry out a final evaulation and reconnect individual homes, while the transmission system operator DEDDHE had offices in each of the areas for this purpose.

On the issue of restoring the environment, the minister said that Neos Voutzas was considered a forested area but not Mati and that a reforestation act will be issued to clear this up, while reforestation will be carried out by local forestry services.

He added that ratified forest maps will be 100 percent completed by the end of 2019.

Source: AMNA