Old roads and water with… holidays! – The inland areas of the prefecture of Heraklion that “moan” (pics)

An aging road network that makes it difficult for tourists to access the area. Irrigation breaks, in the water supply, even in the electricity supply sometimes in a highly touristic and rural area. Few hotel units that are not enough to meet the ever-increasing demand are some from the problems experienced by the residents of Chondros, Psari Forada, Kastri, Keratokambos and Arvi.

Areas of exceptional beauty and history but geographically remote, as a result of which they are forgotten by the competent authorities and the problems of the residents are not solved.

Frequent water interruptions due to emergency breakdowns are a frequent problem for residents. Especially in cases of irrigation, the problem for an area with so many greenhouse crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and bananas is characterized as very serious.

Areas of exceptional beauty and history but geographically remote, as a result of which they are forgotten by the competent authorities and the problems of the residents are not solved

“In Kastri, for example, only one borehole operates day and night, 365 days a year. Our great anxiety and our great hoarseness is that in the event of a breakdown, the entire area will inevitably be left without water for a few hours or even days. Imagine the summer season with the accommodation full what happens when this happens… There must be a definitive solution to this problem as it is an urgent need for us. It is also a serious issue for our agricultural world, with the crops having high water requirements, as is logical”, says the president of the Local Community of Chondros, Mr. Charalambos Theodosakis.

At the moment, 8 water and irrigation wells are operating in the area and an old one is being replaced for irrigation. Recently, broken irrigation networks were repaired, with the Municipality’s plumbers and watermen, in view of the upcoming irrigation season. But these actions are not enough…

“Effort is being made to cover all damages so that we can ensure normality in our agricultural crops. We have a difficult irrigation season ahead of us, the path is long, but the effort does not stop, it will continue every day, where necessary. The municipal authority, the community and everyone helps, even if discreetly, each in their own way and we all continue the effort together. But our problems need drastic solutions and interventions”, adds Mr. Theodosakis.

The entire road network of the municipality is old and with many problems that make access for tourists quite difficult and with many obstacles. The request of the residents and the organizations of the area in this part as well is to make redevelopment interventions at least in areas that are pillars of tourism, such as the section from Chondros to Kastri-Keratokambos and the road to Psari Forada, Arvi and essentially the entire beach forehead. But without forgetting the mountainous places like Symi and Omalos, which are also sources of a large number of tourists.

FILE “TOURISM”

Just 500 beds for 10,000 guests

Tourism every year is even more. Every summer the wider area receives more than 10,000 people. The beds, however, that exist are only 500, so this is also a point that needs immediate intervention and the need for more beds. And if, despite the problems, the whole area is kept in a fairly good condition, it is due, in addition to the efforts of the Municipality, to the voluntary contribution of the residents and the good cooperation of the Local Community of Chondros and the Cultural Associations.

So again this year, everyone together undertook the cleaning of the beach front and the preparation for the summer season, so that the whole area is ready to receive foreigners, and not only visitors. The concept of giving and volunteering with a series of actions took off again this year just before the start of the tourist season! Roads were cleaned, trees were deforested, walls and alleys were whitewashed, in the larger parts of the settlements, preparing the villages for Easter and the summer season. The request, however, is to create the necessary infrastructures, in order to further strengthen the development of the wider region.