Nikos Hardalias: “With holistic interventions we are upgrading Eastern Attica”

One of the largest environmental projects in the country, the Koropi-Paiania Wastewater Treatment Center (KEL K-P), was inaugurated today, in the presence of Attica Regional Governor Nikos Hardalia, by EYDAP President Giorgos Stergiou and Managing Director Haris Sahinis.

This far-reaching project, with a budget of 112.9 million euros, was built through the utilization of NSRF resources by the Region of Attica with EYDAP as the Operating Body, in the context of a relevant Program Contract between the two involved bodies and the Municipality of Kropias.

“KEL Koropi – Peania marks a big change for Eastern Attica” the Regional Governor of Attica pointed out in his speech, underlining that: “With holistic interventions we are upgrading Eastern Attica, one of the most developing residential and economic areas of our country, which is changing with projects that protect the environment and the seas of the wider region, with projects that are an integral element of its identity”.

Mr. Hardalias pointed out that the operation of the unit, which is “part of the largest environmental intervention currently underway in Greece” is part of the major projects implemented in the region by the Region of Attica in collaboration with EYDAP and the relevant Municipalities, in the context “a strong cooperation for the protection of the environment and the rational management of the water resources of Attica”. These projects, which as he said, “highlight our priority to create a green and humane Attica”, include the creation of three new sewage treatment facilities and more than 1,000 kilometers of drainage network in the wider area. “And I want to make a commitment that we don’t stop here. Our plan for the next five years clearly foresees that we continue to invest in green policies and projects, with a strong environmental footprint. We continue even more dynamically, for an even more promising and greener future” concluded Mr. Hardalias.

The identity of the project

• ⁠The operation of the KEL – KP comes to provide a solution to a major problem in the region, which dates back to the mid-80s. In addition to the two Municipalities (Koropi – Paiania), the KEL – KP additionally serves the settlements of Glyka Nera, South Pallini and Kantza, as well as the coastal zone of the Municipalities of Kropias and Saronikos. A total of 125,000 residents are expected to be served by 2049.

• ⁠The water derivative from the treatment of urban wastewater can be directly allocated for the irrigation of the adjacent peri-urban crops in the Mediterranean plain, achieving a significant saving of water resources and a reduction of the environmental footprint.

•⁠ ⁠At the same time, the implementation of an extensive sewage network in Southeast Attica is being promoted, which will serve tens of thousands of residents, while reducing the fines paid due to the lack of connection to a central sewage system.

It should be noted that in total the sewerage and wastewater treatment projects throughout Eastern Attica have a budget of 420 million euros from the resources of two NSRF 2014-2020 Funds (Cohesion Fund and European Regional Development Fund) – an amount which, together with the Koropi-Peania KEL , exceeds half a billion euros.

In addition to the Regional Governor of Attica Nikos Hardalia, the President of EYDAP Giorgos Stergiou and the Managing Director Haris Sahinis, the Minister of State Makis Voridis, the Secretary General of Waste Management Coordination Manolis Grafakos, local MPs, mayors of Eastern Attica were present at today’s opening ceremony. and representatives of the contractor company K/X ERETVO SA – AAGIS SA.

For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of EYDAP, Giorgos Stergiou, said among other things: “With this project, we are essentially contributing to the upgrading of the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens, stopping the burden on the environment and strengthening the development prospects of the region with the innovation of water reclamation irrigation’.

The Managing Director of EYDAP, Charalambos Sahinis, referring to the project, emphasized: “It is an important milestone in the process of completion for the drainage projects in Eastern Attica. Projects that are part of the demanding investment plan implemented by EYDAP, which reaches 2 billion. euros, with the aim of upgrading the quality of life of citizens, protecting the environment and resilience to the challenges of climate change”.

For his part, the Mayor of Kropias Dimitrios Kyousis said: “Today we inaugurated the largest health and environmental project that was done in our region, a project that citizens have been waiting for for about 40 years. I am satisfied and await the developments both for the reuse of water and for the co-financing of its internal connections”.

Finally, the Mayor of Paiana, Isidoros Madis, pointed out: “We are very happy to have inaugurated the Wastewater Treatment Center. I want to thank the Region of Attica, personally the regional governor and the Regional Council, because they passed the environmental impact study giving the “green” light in order to satisfy the needs of eastern Attica as a whole”.

After the ceremony, there was a tour of the KELKP facilities and information on the procedures followed.