Newsroom
The Nicosia District Local Government Organisation (EOA) is still waiting for approximately €2 million in state funding intended to deal with dangerous buildings across the district.
EOA Nicosia President Constantinos Yiorkadjis told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the organisation has yet to receive instructions from the Interior Ministry on the procedure for applying for the money.
The funding was initially approved for Nicosia Municipality through the Border Areas Revitalisation Fund. Following the local government reform, responsibility for dangerous buildings was transferred to EOA Nicosia.
Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos said the Interior Ministry had confirmed that the money remains allocated to the Nicosia municipal district because of its source in the Border Areas Revitalisation Fund.
While the funding process remains unresolved, the municipality and EOA Nicosia have begun conducting joint inspections of properties. Prountzos said the municipality already had records covering a number of buildings, allowing the two authorities to combine their information and inspections.
Their responsibilities differ under the current system. Nicosia Municipality handles nuisance issues, while EOA Nicosia is responsible for determining and addressing risks associated with dangerous buildings.
Prountzos said the situation can become particularly difficult when a property is both dangerous and a source of nuisance. Municipal employees may be unable to enter or carry out work because of the risks involved. Such properties can also present health hazards and, in some cases, create conditions that could lead to fires.
EOA Nicosia has already contacted property owners whose buildings have been classified as dangerous or found to require repairs. The owners have been asked to take the necessary corrective measures. The organisation will assess its next steps based on the response it receives from owners.
The latest EOA Nicosia register lists 656 dangerous buildings across the district, along with another 55 properties requiring repairs. Within the Nicosia municipal district, 171 buildings are classified as dangerous and 28 require repairs.
Meanwhile, the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) has created a three-member committee to provide advice on professional assessments concerning dangerous buildings.
ETEK President Constantinos Constanti said the committee can assist EOA organisations when the findings of an engineer who has classified a building as dangerous are disputed. The aim is to help resolve disagreements without the need for court proceedings.
