An autopsy on the cleaning works of the Podoniftis stream, which is a point of high risk in case of heavy rainfall, was carried out today by the Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias. The visit is part of the wider planning framework of the Region, with the aim of the effective implementation of critical anti-flood projects for the shielding of the Basin.
During the autopsy, the Prefect found on the so-called “bridge”which joins the Municipality of Athens with the Municipality of Nea Philadelphia – Nea Chalkidona, which needs immediate intervention. On the initiative of Mr. Hardalia, the competent services of the Region have already started the study preparation process, in order to be recorded the maintenance needs of the bridge and to precisely define the range of interventions required. Upon completion of the study, the tender and the auction of the project will be launched, which will be carried out by the Region.
It is worth noting that, while the responsibility for maintaining the bridge belongs jointly to the two neighboring municipalities, their inability to respond due to limited resources and competencies, led to a request for assistance to the Attica Region. Mr. Hardalias, true to his commitment to metropolitan management of critical infrastructures, has requested to assume responsibility for the bridge, which – despite high traffic – remains unmaintained for several yearscreating risks for the safety of citizens and vehicles.
As stated by Mr. Nikos Hardalias: «We continue our barrage of autopsiesin the cleaning works carried out in all the streams of the Basin. We try with the means at our disposal, to intervene and provide solutions wherever and whenever we can, even in matters that do not normally belong to our competences. The issues of the Municipalities should not be dealt with in terms of competence, but in terms of possibility. We always aim at good cooperation with them, as well as with all relevant bodies, in order to provide immediate and effective solutions for the protection of citizens. That is why we are also helping here at the “bridge”, in an extremely difficult projectwhich does not only concern its restoration, but also the cleaning of its slopes, which are in a tragic state, as a result of which they create a problem with water drainage.
We continue applying with a holistic plan, we know what cleanings we will have to do.
In cooperation with the State, we proceed immediately, within the first quarter of 2025 in the tender of 54 flood protection projects with secured funding, either from the Region’s funds, or from the funds of the co-competent Ministries from European and national financial protocols. We have also submitted our proposals to the financial staff on how the money can be found over a period of four years and for the other projects that are needed, and we are happy because we see that they are sufficiently structured and with the necessary seriousness, the weight required is being given to these issues .
What we need to make clear is that the armoring of Attica is not a matter of the future. It’s about the present. Our job is to be in the field together with our Mayors, to try to bring results, reducing the risk of all these weather phenomena that sooner or later we will also face in Attica”.
Asked because in previous years not all the required cleanings were donestated that: “I cannot answer why the required cleanings were not carried out in previous years, it is possibly also a matter of consensus. Especially for the issue of Kifisos, let’s say, there was a logic that said “whose stream is it”. The Ministry said that it is a matter for the Region and the Region said that it is not a stream, it is a river, so it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure. This whole merry-go-round of responsibilities worked against the citizens. For me it’s a false dilemma. If there is a flood we will all run and we will not arrive, So we took the responsibility, we entered Kifissos which we are cleaning and we will continue to enter everywhere, wherever we can and always with the possibilities we have.
What has been happening in the last few months in the Attica Region, and I feel great gratitude for our technical service executives and for all our partners, is unprecedented. We must immediately move forward and implement projects that give tangible results. This is what citizens ask and rightly demand from us.”
From his side the Mayor of Nea Philadelphia – Nea Chalkidona Ioannis Tombouloglou stated that: “Our cooperation with the Region of Attica is perfect. To the best of our ability, we do what is required, to the fullest extent. The Region of Attica, since September 19, has started the study of cleaning the slopes as well as the restoration of the two bridges in the area and we are proceeding with the implementation phase of what is planned to be done”.
Targeted interventions and continuous control
The Region of Attica, under the guidance of the Regional Governor Nikos Hardalia, remains firmly oriented towards strengthening the anti-flood protection of Attica through a strategic plan that includes:
• Continuous inspections of stream and river cleaning and maintenance projects.
• Close cooperation with municipalities and competent services to resolve issues of competence and facilitate interventions.
• Claiming additional resources and responsibilities for the management of critical infrastructure.
In the holistic plan drawn up by the Regional Authority for the protection of the Basin, against climate change and the subsequent extreme natural phenomena, a total of 158 anti-flood projects are included, with a total budget of 1.2 billion. euro.
Of these, 54 projects (budget 447.4 million euros) they have a high maturity index and are on track for implementationfrom the first half of 2025, in order to have them delivered by the end of the current term of the Regional Authority.
On behalf of the Region of Attica, Mr. Nikos Hardalia was accompanied to today’s autopsy by Special Secretary Elena Rapti, the Head of the Technical Works Directorate Miltiadis Kyrkos and the engineer of the Technical Works Directorate, Giorgos Pavlakos,
On behalf of the Municipality of Nea Philadelphia – Nea Chalkidona, in addition to the Mayor Yiannis Tombouloglou, the Deputy Mayor of Technical Services, Eftychia Papaloukas, was also present.
Among the representatives of the project contractor, ZITACAR President Dionysis Zafeiropoulos and CEO Vangelis Spiliopoulos were present.
Continuing post-mortems on critical flood control projectsMr. Hardalias next Monday, he is expected to be once again in the cleaning work of Kifissosat the confluence of Lenorman and Durrakh. This is one of the most demanding parts of the project, as the special morphology of the river makes it difficult for the crews to access.
Source: www.enikos.gr
