Infrastructure and development projects, energy community, green transition, forestry maps, Bazaar on the River and of course coronavirus, dominate the news in Chiriyot for the month of March.
Bazaar-Potamos: Wake up, let go...
After a long period of tug-of-war between local bodies, it was finally submitted to the Transparency, revised and improved, after opposition pressure, the draft regulations for the operation of the Bazaar. At the same time, the Economic Committee of the Municipality, passed the study and maturation of the River's regeneration, with funding from the Deposits and Loans Fund.
The wind turbine's railing and in the background... energy community
At the same time, the suitors of the «green transition» are parading from the doorstep of Kythera, who, like another Penelope, is trying to gain time by weaving her shroud energy community the day and by changing its lining at night. The times are critical, as the north, mainly of the island is under suffocating pressure, due to the permits that have been approved in various locations by the Energy Regulatory Authority, ignoring the fact that giant structures are to be erected within areas of the NATURA network and in areas adjacent to archaeological and cultural heritage sites, in violation of the Renewable Energy Land Use Plan itself.
Projects in Kythera: The orgasm of the «fat cow»
The days of «fat cows» in development projects that Kythera is experiencing, were also certified in the month of March, with a series of integrated plans for the upgrading of infrastructure and the implementation of new ones.
Specifically, the port infrastructure was included in the «PHILODEMOS II» programme of the island for the coming years, while Kythera was included in the country's network of waterways. At the same time, the works on the sports facilities of Manitochori have progressed significantly, with funding from the Region of Attica and the work of the temporary support was completed of the harbour bridge in Diakofti.
But the most important news for Kythera in March was the green light from the Region for the construction of 3 desalination plants, which are expected to relieve the island, which has been suffering from water shortages in recent years.
Pandemic calendar
The third month of the year was quiet in the islands in terms of cases, with two encouraging pieces of news giving optimism for the containment of the pandemic.
The first one was related to completion of vaccination coverage of the Kythera Nursing Home, while the second, «saw» Antikythera is preparing to become one of the first covid-free destinations in Greece.
Forest maps and reactions
In March we had the posting of the revised forest maps for Kythera, with complaints from the most official lips, those of the Mayor, Efstratios Harhalakis to the Deputy Minister of Environment, George Amyras, on obsolete technical specifications for their construction.
Airport-Jovilao: Rolling festivities
With the spring rush, we had the coming together of all those creative forces to organise the programme of events for the 50 years of uninterrupted operation of the airport. Thus, and after repeated meetings, the Initiative Committee for the celebration of the Jubilee, with the Airport Manager, Stavros Paizano and the newly established Kythera Island Tourist Accommodation Association «CeriGo», joining forces for the common cause.
The light of Kythera, travels us
Kythera, that seductive hive with its inexhaustible bomb of cultural works, saw the month of March heralded as a promise to the ends of the world. The island was included in the 10 best uncrowded destinations suggested by the Guardian for last summer, while the release of the book by the Director of Kythera High School, Stavroula Facea, «Alchemies of Nature - Orchids of Kythera», highlighted for the umpteenth time the island's intoxicating amalgam of biodiversity. Finally, in the sanctuary of the Antikythera Mechanism, researchers from the University College of London, including two Greeks, attempted to invade, deciphering their secrets and codes.
Kytheraiko New Deal, courtesy of Kythera.News
In the middle of it all, we had the online meeting-presentation of the proposal for a Kythira New Deal, inspiration, Yannis Koronaiou, Spyros Michalakakis and Manos Trifillis and promotion-technical support, Kythera.News.
