Newsroom
Cyprus’ Ombudsman has called for immediate action to resolve a 29-year violation of private property rights in the village of Tris Elies, where a water reservoir has stood on private land without the owner’s consent, permits, or compensation since 1996.
In a report issued by Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights Maria Stylianou-Lottides, the Tris Elies Community Council and the Limassol District Administration were urged to either expropriate the affected land or compensate the complainants. The reservoir, built by the Water Development Department (WDD) to serve the village, was mistakenly constructed on private property instead of its intended location.
The dispute began when the complainants were denied a building permit due to the presence of the unauthorized reservoir and pipelines. Correspondence between the involved authorities since 2020 confirms the error but failed to yield corrective measures.
The WDD maintains the reservoir must remain in place for technical and economic reasons, and advised the Community Council to begin the expropriation process. However, the Council cited a lack of financial resources and deferred responsibility to the District Administration.
Despite expressed willingness from all parties to resolve the matter, no tangible progress has been made. The Commissioner criticized the prolonged inaction, stating it constitutes a “blatant violation” of constitutional and European property rights, and underscored that financial constraints do not justify continued illegality.
“The right to property is fundamental and cannot be subordinated to administrative errors or funding limitations,” the report reads. “This 29-year interference must be rectified without further delay.”
The report has been submitted to the Tris Elies Community Council, the Limassol District Administration, and the Water Development Department.
