According to the minister in charge, all municipalities received support in the part of fixed funding.
“The attempt to create impressions through publications of the Sunday press falls into the void when the garish headlines are contradicted by the content of the report itself”emphasizes the Deputy Minister of the Interior Stelios Petsas in response to accusations of faulty and late funding of local authorities for fire protection.
According to the minister in charge, all municipalities received support in the part of fixed funding “much earlier than any other year” and specifically at the end of March with a total amount of 16.9 million euros from the Central Autonomous Resources (C.A.P.) and an additional 1.5 million euros from the Associations of Municipalities of Attica.
In addition, it states that in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, 48 municipalities and 7 associations of municipalities were supported in June, with a total amount of 5.62 million euros. for cleaning and opening roads.
As Mr. Petsas mentions, in addition, this year, for the first time, resources of approximately 72 million euros are available from the Ministry of Environment and Energy through the Recovery Fund (50 million euros) and the Regular Budget (22 million euros) for preventive forest clearings of 78,000 hectares, for the opening and maintenance of forest roads with a total length of 12,000 km, as well as the opening of fire protection zones with a total length of 2,000 km.
“Therefore, we have total resources this year of around 100 million euros, a huge investment for the fire season. With planning, composure and professionalism in the management of fire fronts we do everything we can to achieve the best possible. And of course, the cooperation and vigilance of all of us – government, self-government, volunteers and citizens – is required. And certainly such a critical issue that touches on the climate crisis and extends to a supranational level, as seen in many countries of Southern and Western Europe, does not lend itself to micropolitical exploitation”notes the Deputy Minister of the Interior in his reply.
According to a publication of the “Documento” newspaper, Mr “Petsas provided funds for fire prevention at the end of June”, while the “Sunday Democracy” newspaper reports that “they dramatically cut the grants for fire protection in Parnitha and Penteli”.
RES-EMP
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