The demarcation of Lake Pamvotida and the changes resulting from the Law on Seashore and Beaches emerged as a dominant issue in the pre-agenda discussion that took place in the Municipal Council.
The issue after the publications of the last few days was first brought up by the mayor Thomas Begas stressing that what is important is the institutionalization of the Presidential Decree. It is the only tool, as he emphasized, which will put an end to “loopholes and cheap tricks at the expense of the lake”.
The issue is highlighted as the specific law and the interpretative circular recognize against the State Real Estate Service for their claims and disputes with the state, those citizens who show real rights to specific lands.
The mayor first pointed out that the lakeside bike path is an important project for the municipal authority that concerns all the residents of Ioannina as it protects and highlights Lake Pamvotida.
For this reason, it was included in the strategic planning of the Municipal Authority in the period 2014-2019 and through the plan of Sustainable Urban Development, it was sought to implement its first phase from Mavili Square to Perama.
“All this concerns the political side of the case. From then on, the municipal services undertook to prepare the studies which were completed legally taking into account the legislation at the time”, noted Mr. Begas.
He clarified that the marking of the bicycle path was done between the red and yellow lines with the consent of the Land Service, while the expropriations have been carried out by the state and all it did was the drawing up of the land registers.
He noted that now the legislative development that has occurred as well as any other that may occur in the future will be taken into account by the municipality’s services so that appropriate amendments can be made if necessary.
Both the former mayor Dimitris Papageorgiou and the head of the Ioannina 2023 faction Tatiana Kalogianni described the Presidential Decree as a prerequisite for the protection of the lake and the launching of projects.
Pantelis Kolokas, the head of the “Ioannina Beautiful City” faction, was particularly sharp in his position, arguing that with the demarcation of 2006 there was a seizure of property.
With the seizure of the properties, projects cannot be done, said Mr. Kolokas, noting that a project to proceed requires consent and not ostracization of the owners.
At the same time, he referred to the problems that have arisen for the sports and nautical facilities.
