A fish farm has been operating illegally for years in a Limassol village, destroying the environment around the Kouris dam for which several ministries are suspect of abuse of power, a damning report by the audit service revealed on Wednesday.
The firm farm is also suspected of money laundering, adding to the long list of wrongdoings detailed in the report.
It describes the development as blatantly illegal, and highlights it has carried out a “large-scale intervention” within the environmental protection zone at the Kouris dam.
As such, the dam no longer has adequate water supply in case of a fire, thus putting public safety at risk.
The audit service suggested the issues were likely due to the business activities of the fish farm.
According to the report, the business in question concerns a large-scale development with two fish farms in neighbouring Limassol villages. One is in Trimiklini and the other in Sylikou.
They are owned by the same interests.
The owner, along with a first-degree relative, has also used state land in Trimiklini’s section of the development to breed fish in special tanks.
They offer wooden houses for accommodation and sauna rooms, along with an artificial lake and a restaurant. All of the facilities are illegal, the report highlights.
“None of the projects of this development secured any permits from the competent authorities, resulting in a large-scale infringement within the protection zone of the Kouris river, significantly reducing its drainage capacity,” the report details.
The deputy tourism ministry has done nothing to put an end to the illegality, it adds.
According to the audit service, there are suspicions of misuse of funds, as the owner received €420,000 in EU funds from Cyprus’ agriculture payments in 2012 to construct a water reservoir, aimed at supplying the Sylikou community.
The reservoir however was ultimately used as a fish farm, and as such, the matter has been reported to the European Anti-Fraud office.
Furthermore, the report details suspicious activity raising questions of money laundering, which have been forwarded to Cyprus’ unit for combating money laundering (Mokas).
The audit service highlights activities by a slew of government officials in the agriculture ministry, interior ministry and deputy tourism ministry may have committed an offence and should be investigated.
The findings have been forwarded to Cyprus’ anti-corruption authority to assess abuse of power and corruption.
The investigation began after the many complaints the audit service said it received, as well as a request to look into the matter from the House environment committee.
More later
