Title: Ground-breaking ceremony for the European Union funded Morphou WWTP extension project
Date: Wednesday, June 22nd ,2022
Where: Morphou wastewater treatment plant site
Funded by: EU
Implemented by: UNDP LIF Project
On June 22nd, 2022, the Technical Committee on Environment was invited to attend a ground-breaking ceremony, organized by UNDP in partnership with the European Commission for the European Union funded Morphou Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) extension project.
The event was opened with the Project Consultant Mehmet Naci Çimen introducing the project and followed by speeches from Mr. Kjartan Bjornsson, Deputy Director at DG REFORM & Head of Cyprus Settlement Support Unit at the European Commission, Mr. Alexandre Prieto, UNDP LIF Project Manager on behalf of UNDP Cyprus Head of Office, and Mr. Mahmut Özçınar, representing the Morphou local community.
Mr. Kjartan Bjornsson, Deputy Director at DG REFORM & Head of Cyprus Settlement Support Unit at the European Commission, justified the importance of this project aiming to prevent untreated water from seeping into the ground contaminating thus the largest groundwater reserved of Cyprus, and presented the results already achieved. He also mentioned that this project has been a part of the European Commission 's portfolio of support to local communities in the Turkish Cypriot side/community, and pointed out, that the objective of this support is to facilitate the reunification of the island by improving local infrastructure and services, hence making the hole island more livable and sustainable for all. As stated, this is a 3-dimension project of protecting the groundwater, the citrus plantations thriving in the area by using the treated water for irrigation purposes and thus protecting the environment. His speech was closed by highlighting the fact that environment does not know any Green Line, and that the need of protecting it is indeed huge.
Mr. Alexandre Prieto, UNDP LIF Project Manager on behalf of the UNDP Cyprus Head of Office, spoke about the role of the Local Infrastructure Facility in providing technical assistance for the design and implementation of projects aiming to improve the environmental, and socio-economical infrastructure of the Turkish Cypriot side/community. He then underlined the importance of climate action by supporting green sustainable cities and improving the urban planning and infrastructure in a way that matches the needs of the environment. He promised to continue to draw upon their extensive experience, partnerships and expertise to help support the communities in Cyprus towards a future that is zero-carbon and climate-resilient. He then thanked UNDP's partners and extended his gratitude to the local community for their excellent support in the preparation and implementation of this project.
Mr. Mahmut Özçınar, representing the Morphou local community, during his speech, expressed his pleasure in taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony of Morphou Wastewater Treatment Plant extension project and thanked all partners. Özçınar stated that this project brought all people together to protect the environment and reassured everyone that Morphou local community is sensitively focused on such environmental projects. He also acknowledged that the sustainability of this project must be ensured, and that the local community takes responsibility for sustaining this project by spreading the awareness in the society.
The day closed with the placement of the plaques and a tour around the facilities of the treatment plant and reservoir.
