The special accountability meeting | What was discussed about Taka, projects and strays

The second special accountability meeting of the Tripoli municipal council was held on Monday 4/22/2024.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Chairman of the Board of Directors noted that in the special meetings the law provides for discussion only on issues that have arisen in the last two months and noted that from the next time there will be filtering.

To this there was a reaction from the municipal councilor Mr. Papadimitriou, with the Mayor replying that “you put a timer on the meetings and brought” the police.

For his part, Mr. Gourgaris said that no one from the majority can judge which issues are important to discuss and which are not.

The first issue was raised by Mr. Vangelis Gourgaris who said that the municipality of Tripoli is vulnerable to flooding, referring to the Agionikola and Agiothanasis streams, but also to the anti-flood control that did not proceed in Zevgolatio and Neohori. He spoke about the major problems faced by the few employees of the DEYA, while underlining that the government is proceeding with the merger of DEYA with a more likely scenario of one DEYA per region. The people will say the water is water and farmers will pay more for irrigation water. He called for a fight to prevent the privatization of DEYA, hiring staff and upgrading the organic, abolition of VAT on the price of water and an immediate reduction of all tariffs. Regarding irrigation, he mentioned Lake Taka and the long-term delays of the project. He noted that “we have had enough of promises” and emphasized that there must be more dynamic claims.

The Vice President of DEVAT Stefanos Hatzopoulos answered about water tariffs, but also about the staffing needs that are being tried to be covered through programs. He talked about the connection of a well that will help the villages of Tegea. He said that Saga drilling has become active and is being used whenever needed. He referred to programming contracts for villages of the municipality of Tripoli from DEVAT. As for Biological Cleaning, a proposal has been made for the utilization of sewage sludge and approval is expected.

Ilias Angelakos said about Lake Taka, a committee should be set up in the municipality of Tripoli to push the region to complete this project that will give life and keep young people in our villages.

Deputy Mayor Yiannis Hasapis said that the project in Lake Taka will be built by the Peloponnese region. “The municipal authority has set as a primary goal the support of the primary sector, led by the Mayor of Tripoli. We are constantly pushing because we believe it is a very important project that will keep the new generation in our country. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Rural Development made no mention of the Taka irrigation system, while the District Governor said it will be auctioned by May.

Yiannis Katsiris noted the big problems in the Mantineia plain with nitrification, “we have to see how to enrich the water table in the area” and proposed a special meeting for water management in the municipality of Tripoli.

The Mayor of Tripoli, Kostas Tzioumis, noted that the issue is important, but he emphasized that the council must discuss the issues that the Municipality of Tripoli has jurisdiction over. “It’s nice to make wishes for flood protection, but you must understand that it is the responsibility of the district. We can push, but it is not our responsibility. Can DEVAT carry out anti-flooding work? There is a complete study for the stream of Agionikolas and it is in the Ministry. I have been to the Ministry 15 times for the Taka irrigation system. We are getting to the end to be auctioned. Actions have been taken since Christmas until today by the Ministry, it is likely to be auctioned in May as conveyed to me by the District Governor.

DEVAT produces work, despite the serious energy costs that have increased due to the energy crisis. DEVAT is in a much better financial situation compared to other DEVAs.

In the Municipality of Tripoli, a huge effort is being made in water management, the infrastructure of DEVAT has been greatly improved and we are continuing to upgrade the biological system.

Yiannis Smyrniotis said that Ttaka was included as a wetland, as an environmental project. And so this project has offered a lot, changed the microclimate of the area. Pressure must be exerted to auction off the Taka irrigation.

Sotiris Papadimitriou asked if there is any development with the ownership of Lake Taka, with the Mayor replying that the court is pending.

The second issue was proposed by Yiannis Smyrniotis and he asked for answers on when the works will be finished. “The city is impassable, you have to make a plan to get from one point to another. We don’t have any public places for gatherings. The archaeological walk in Alea is in its fourth year. We can say that various people are to blame, but a concrete answer must be given to the citizens. Until now, we voted for extensions because we want the works to be finished. In Grigoriou E and Cyprus, we told you to come to an agreement with the natural gas company and you said that it will not be dug for three years and now the works have started. As for the extension of the Spiritual Center, you say that the services were delayed and the PPC pillars were moved. The projects never end. We cannot for traffic and for traffic regulations.

“No one wants the projects to be delayed and the citizens to suffer” said Deputy Mayor Alekos Kanellopoulos and said that the projects are now progressing at a good pace and without problems. “Villa Turkovasili continues the removal work, in Pneumatiko the removals have been completed, we are waiting for modifications from the study to proceed with the work, Agios Vassiliou Square is no longer an issue, the ceilings are being completed, the paving stones have arrived and will be installed after Easter . Manjunio is a big problem, I don’t know when it will be solved. In the swimming pool, the painting and reinforcements of the iron bearing body are completed, the panels have arrived. The swimming pool will be closed in June. In Basiakou square, the materials are placed on the floor and the pergolas remain. It will end in June. For the archaeological site of Alea, in June it is coming to an end.”

“You talk about delays as if you don’t live here. Your brother Michalis Smyrniotis was informing me about the project delays in the region. Do you know when the bills we sent for the projects will be paid? Yesterday, we paid bills for March of last year’s PDE. We pay the staff of the NSRF structures from the municipality. You don’t care about that, you want to criticize. No advance payments have been made for the Recovery Fund projects either. What project is the city impassable? What problem does the Spiritual Center and Villa Turkovasili create? The city is not impassable. It has traffic problems from the natural gas project. A necessary work that must be done, but a work that creates problems in everyday life. The progress of the projects depends on the flow of funding,” said Mayor Kostas Tzioumis.

“You said that Agios Vassiliou Square will be finished on April 29 and that we will celebrate Easter in Basiakou Square,” said Mr. Smyrniotis.

The Mayor replied: “The works are continuing and almost all will be completed by 2024. I don’t know what will happen to Manjunio.”

The third issue was raised by Mr. Ilias Angelakos and concerned the homeless. “Let the Mayor be judged who talks about new and old councilors and about firecrackers without evidence. I have data on the supply of vaccines and other medicinal substances. You paid and received 2,500 vaccines in one go. I have not said any inaccuracy. At whose recommendation did you receive so many vaccines and how many animals are there at the shelter? Prove to us from the National Registry how many vaccines you have used.”

Deputy Mayor Yiannis Papadatos said: “Mr. Angelakos, you say a lot of inaccuracies. In all the municipalities of the country, there was a provision in the Philodimos program for the supply of vaccines at a discount”

There was tension when at some point Mr. Papadatos said some questions are about the kindergarten to Mr. Angelakos. Mr. Troupis and Mr. Nikitas reacted to the way the Deputy Mayor expressed himself. “While you are from the university” said Mr. Troupis and an intense dialogue with Mr. Papadatos followed.

“These characterizations are not needed, I respect everyone and I have nothing personal with Mr. Papadatos,” said Mr. Angelakos. He then asked if sterilizations are being done from March onwards and what about the five member committee and if the person who resigned has been replaced.

Mayor Kostas Tzioumis replied: “I see, Mr. Angelakos, that you have personally undertaken a slanderous attempt. The problem you say is that we got a lot of vaccines and some of them have expired. This contract was financed by Philodimos. The invitation said that it gives all municipalities a certain amount and that the eligible costs are specific. The municipality of Tripoli had the option to say I don’t want the 17,000 euros and get less. We decided a take all the money and expire after one year. We did the right thing and took what they gave us. The employees of the municipality received the vaccines and medicines. All the expiring ones were given back to the company and they gave us free new shots. Blow up the scandal. We have two years of vaccines and drugs ahead of us. We are the only municipality in Greece that has a shelter and sterilizes every day. The bottom line is that the municipality of Tripoli has the most modern facilities in all of Greece. There are anonymous blogs in Tripoli and we have appealed to the Prosecutor. If you continue in the same vein, I consider you to be doing a service. When someone slanders, there will be consequences.”

“The way you say it, it’s a threat,” said Dimitris Koskinas to the Mayor.

“I didn’t talk about municipal councilors, but about people who make false complaints,” said Mr. Tzioumis. “On Thursday there was a surprise check by the veterinary medicine and the result was excellent.”