The course of restoration of the problems in the Municipality of Ancient Olympia, the damage to the crops from the summer fires, the support of the rural world of the area and the prospects that open for the tourist development of the place after the inauguration of the digital display of the archeological site Olympias, who will travel around the world, were at the center of the meeting under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that took place at City Hall.
“From the first moment we introduced this new way of compensation, we stressed that the two main axes that we will move are transparency and speed. “I think we are doing it and the citizens are realizing that for the first time compensation is being disbursed so quickly,” he said, referring to the state aid the government has set up to support areas that have suffered major natural disasters.
“Whatever we do in northern Evia, do not have any doubt that we can do it here in Ancient Olympia. We need an integrated spatial investment plan that is already underway that will be able to look to the future to make all those interventions in a coherent and complementary way, so that Ancient Olympia can show its true dynamics. In this context, the strategic renovations are included, which can already be launched and can mature with the support of the government “, added Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
As the Prime Minister noted, “significant major flood defenses are already underway. You now have the resources, Mr. Governor, and the services and capabilities to be able to run important flood defenses quickly. And of course I always want to ask for absolute vigilance and cooperation with the Civil Protection in case we have strong weather phenomena. “We will proceed, as we did in the previous great bad weather, with preventive evacuations so that, above all, we can protect human lives.”
Mr. Mitsotakis made a special reference to the program of private sponsorships related to specific projects: to identify with the sponsor who will want to embrace these initiatives. “This has allowed us to move at speeds that were unthinkable for the Greek public administration.”
Mitsotakis to farmers: Profits and benefits for farmers entering into cooperation schemes
At the meeting at the City Hall of Ancient Olympia, there was a discussion about the primary production sector and especially for young farmers, on the occasion of the tax relief on agricultural diesel fuel: or prejudices of the past, we need size in the agricultural sector to be competitive. And now we are creating a clear framework where we say to the farmers: cooperate, you will have specific benefits, tax and financial. “If you do not cooperate, you should realize that you will not have the same privileged treatment from the state”, stressed the Prime Minister.
Within 2022, the works start in Patras – Pyrgos – Olympia
Regarding the roads of the area, Mr. Mitsotakis stated that interventions are made on two levels: “The first concerns the immediate improvements in a road network which is unacceptable, unfortunately, and costs human lives and disabilities to many of your fellow citizens. This project is already underway, there is a contractor, the interventions will start immediately. And of course I am sure that by the end of the year we will have the final approval by the European Commission for the big, new road, I will say Patras – Pyrgos – Olympia, fully recognizing the importance of the last piece. “Because this issue is in the European Commission, I have personally dealt with it, we will unblock it, it is my personal commitment and within 2022 the works will start on this road, because it is a pending state for the completion of the major roads”.
The interventions of the Ministers
Deputy Minister of Interior Stelios Petsas stood on the two axes of “rehabilitation and development”, noting that a lot of financial assistance has already been allocated to the Local Government. “We will do whatever it takes to help repair the damage,” he said, noting that support “will be ongoing until all wounds are healed.” He also stressed that, among other things, resources have been found for substantial regional 45-kilometer rural road construction projects, “which will connect farmers and stockbreeders with their fields or pastures”, but also for sewage and water management projects.
Regarding the initiatives for projects, the Minister of State Akis Skertsos stated that “we have created a mechanism for the maturation of strategically important projects and we can now, as a government, centrally and in cooperation with the local government, assign such projects to the maturing body. part of the implementation “.
Referring to the actions for the protection of the region from future natural disasters, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, George Amyras, stated that “the total cost of the anti-corrosion works will reach about 4 million euros and 2.7 million have already been credited”. “The projects are logs, log dams, twigs, as well as small timber dams of seven square meters – to hold soil and reduce water runoff in basins and ravines. The projects are already progressing “, he added.
In the part of upgrading the cultural infrastructure and the wider strategic regeneration of the area, the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni stated that “the unification of the archeological site has begun” and at the same time there is in the Recovery Fund a completely mature project “concerning the restoration of the Roman monuments, which means the addition of about six acres of new archaeological site to be visited, thus extending the stay of visitors “.
Referring to the interventions for the upgrading of fire protection, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Christos Stylianidis noted that “we have started cooperation with the US government and forest firefighters will go to be trained”, while stressing that in the area should increase areas and to be well prepared for the clearing of local forests.
Undersecretary to the Prime Minister Christos Triantopoulos referred to the new aid mechanism for those affected by natural disasters, while announcing the provision of support to olive growers across the country. The President of ELGA Andreas Lykourentzos also spoke at the meeting.
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