The Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias, is sending a clear and unequivocal message in every direction in the wake of the devastating fires in Western Attica.
In his remarks, Mr. Hardalias personally pledged that the Region of Attica will not approve any Environmental Impact Study for the installation of wind turbines and industrial renewable energy facilities in protected, areas of the Athens Basin that are designated for reforestation or have been damaged by wildfires.
At the same time, the Regional Governor announced the immediate allocation of the necessary financial resources from the Green Fund for the implementation of essential flood prevention and protection projects (retention dams), emphasizing that the natural regeneration of forests is the Administration’s top priority.
The following is the post by Nikos Hardalias, Regional Governor of Attica, in its original form:
𝝖𝝨 𝝚𝝞𝝢𝝖𝝞 𝝣𝝚𝝟𝝖𝝝𝝖𝝦𝝤 | 𝝤𝝨𝝤 𝝚𝝞𝝡𝝖𝝞 𝝨𝝩𝝤 𝝩𝝞𝝡𝝤𝝢𝝞 𝝩𝝜𝝨 𝝥𝝚𝝦𝝞𝝫𝚚𝝦𝝚𝝞𝝖𝝨 𝝖𝝩𝝩𝝞𝝟𝝜𝝨 𝝟𝝖𝝡𝝞𝝖 𝝡𝝚𝝠𝝚𝝩𝝜 𝝘𝝞𝝖 𝝩𝝤𝝥𝝤𝝝𝝚𝝩𝝜𝝨𝝜 𝝖𝝢𝝚𝝡𝝤𝝘𝚢𝝢𝝜𝝩𝝦𝝞𝝮𝝢 𝝟𝝖𝝞 𝝗𝝞𝝤𝝡𝝜𝝬𝝖𝝢𝝞𝝟𝝮𝝢 𝝖𝝥𝝚 𝝙𝝚𝝢 𝝥𝝦𝝤𝝟𝝚𝝞𝝩𝝖𝝞 𝝢𝝖 𝝚𝝘𝝟𝝦𝝞𝝝𝚞 𝝨𝚞 𝝥𝝦𝝤𝝨𝝩𝝖𝝩𝝚𝝪𝝤𝝡𝝚𝝢𝝚𝝨, 𝝖𝝢𝝖𝝙𝝖𝝨𝝮𝝩𝚚𝝚𝝨 𝝟𝝖𝝞 𝝥𝝠𝝜𝝘𝝚𝝞𝝨𝝚𝝨 𝝖𝝥𝝤 𝝥𝝪𝝦𝝟𝝖𝝘𝝞𝝚𝝨 𝝥𝝚𝝦𝝞𝝤𝝬𝝚𝝨 𝝨𝝩𝝤 𝝠𝝚𝝟𝝖𝝢𝝤𝝥𝝚𝝙𝝞𝝤 𝝡𝝖𝝨 – 𝝜 𝝥𝝚𝝦𝝞𝝫𝝚𝝦𝝚𝝞𝝖 𝝖𝝩𝝩𝝞𝝟𝝜𝝨 𝝡𝝥𝝖𝝞𝝢𝚕𝚕𝚕 “𝝖𝝨𝝥𝝞𝝙𝝖” 𝝨𝝩𝝜𝝢 𝝖𝝢𝝖𝝘𝝚𝝢𝝢𝝜𝝨𝝜 𝝩𝝮𝝢 𝝙𝝖𝝨𝝮𝝢 𝝡𝖨𝖨
In light of the various discussions, initiatives, and concerns—whether justified or not—that have been raised publicly in the wake of the devastating wildfires in Western Attica, I would like to publicly clarify a few things.
The Region of Attica, within the scope of its responsibilities, will do whatever is necessary, in cooperation with the national government, to ensure that all restoration projects in the areas affected by the major fire in Western Attica will be completed within the announced timelines.
At the same time, we are ready to move forward with all the necessary preventive projects (retention dams) included in our plan, which we have been advocating for in recent months. It is important to note that all the necessary financial resources from the central government have already been allocated to us following yesterday’s decision by the Green Fund.
However, no project or intervention will be sufficient unless we first ensure the right conditions for the natural regeneration of the affected areas.
It is, therefore, our non-negotiable principle—and let it be clear—that when it comes to the restoration of our natural resources, the future of our land and our children, we do not play «games,» nor will we tolerate them.
I want to be absolutely clear and unequivocal in every respect:
As long as I am at the helm of the Attica Regional Administration, I personally pledge that we will take concrete steps, within the scope of our responsibilities, every inch of natural regeneration in the areas affected by the recent fires. Every inch—without exception!
I want to make it absolutely clear that no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the installation of wind turbines or industrial renewable energy facilities will be approved in Attica in protected, areas designated for reforestation, or areas affected by wildfires.
Especially for Western Attica, a region that has suffered the severe consequences of the wildfires, our stance is clear: ZERO TOLERANCE. To us, the forests and mountains that have been devastated are not just «empty» spaces on a map. That is why we will not allow any activity that harms the environment. It is a place struggling to regenerate, a priceless green lung for the entire Attica region.
I pledge that we will protect every affected area, as well as the wider region, so that natural reforestation can proceed unhindered, without any industrial intervention, exactly as required by the Constitution.
For us, the green transition is not an empty slogan, but a priority that cannot be achieved either by destroying our mountains or by hindering the ecosystems that are trying to recover.
With a comprehensive plan, we are safeguarding the regeneration of nature. We are protecting life and our children’s heritage.
Consistent, responsible, clear, with no caveats.
