The Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, in the context of the timely preparation for the upcoming fire protection periodo, was found today in Zakynthos, with the aim of shielding the area from fires.
During the short visit of the Deputy Minister to Zakynthos, a meeting was held with all the involved bodies in the building of the Regional Unity of Zakynthos. It was attended by the MP Dionysios Aktypis, the mayor Giorgos Stasinopoulos, the deputy regional governor Konstantinos Kapodistrias, representatives of the Civil Protection of the Local Government, the Fire Service, the Hellenic Police, the Coast Guard and the Forestry Service.
“We have a 2.2 billion program, the “Aegis” that includes 39 sub-programs. Two of them have already been signed and on Friday in Parliament we will pass a big program regarding the acquisition of 7 additional Canadian aircraft and then we will go to sign with the company and with the Canadian government so that we will be among the first to start to receive this new aircraft.
2 of the 7 will be paid directly by the EU and the rest of the money will be drawn from the Recovery Fund and the NSRF program,” said the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, adding that “another 37 programs are running” within of the days, gradually, they begin to be signed. They concern 1,800 vehicles for the Fire Department. The first 400 will be signed soon, within the month. Next are project machines and personnel movement machines, which will be taken by the Local Government and the Security Forces and the Armed Forces. There are regarding 800 project machines, which will help us, first of all during the prevention phase, to clean areas, but also during the suppression phase”.
Furthermore, Mr. Tournas pointed out, as reported by APE-MPE, that “200 million have been approved this year with the “Antinero” program that covers all of Greece. We emphasize, mainly, peri-urban areas, opening some roads to approach fire ecosystems, fire zones and generally everything that needs to be done in the first phase, because it is a huge program that started last year. About 150 million euros have been spent, another 200 million will be given this year and will continue in the coming years. It is done with the care of our foresters, in collaboration with our fire services that determine what these areas are, mainly in the mixed zones, where we have forests and settlements and are faced with the greatest risk. Our target is the most vulnerable and sensitive areas, where we may face a problem for human life due to fire. That’s where we prioritize.
Regarding the financing of the municipalities, last year it was 25 million and this year it will exceed 30 million euros. The first allocation has already been made and we have agreed that within the month they will be disbursed to start the works that have been set in motion. What is needed is the resources that we manage to draw and use them as soon as possible, to enter the fire fighting a little better prepared. We are moving forward with preventive cleanings and asking to prepare a better plan than last year. As for our own forces, which should be with a new plan, with a new deployment of our patrol cars, we will all be out of the starting fire.
Our commanders will be out early and depending on the index we will start earlier to be closer to the fire when it starts, to be more effective as well. We need to move to the points where we will have better supervision, better intervention and better warning”.
Afterwards, the deputy minister made a special reference to the reinforcement of the EMODE teams in the region, announcing that “we are strengthening the forest commandos and EMODE units. We are building one in Corfu and one in Kefalonia. With the helicopters that will be in the areas, we will move the forest commandos, a group of 12 people, and then they will take water and throw it on the fire. This way we will be able to be on time in the first year. There will be one unit covering all three islands. Of course, we also have a corresponding unit across the street from Araxos with 2 helicopters that will be able to come and intervene immediately. The EMODE units from 6 become 16 this year throughout the territory”.
Finally, Mr. Tournas made special reference to the new criminal code. “We have tightened the framework” he said and pointed out that “the fire regulations regarding fire protection are also being amended at the moment and everyone should be informed that now the penalties will be so severe that they will be disastrous for the arsonist, whether by intent or negligence . They start from 10 years and from 50,000 euros. We have already strengthened the Directorate for Dealing with Arson Crimes. In addition to the framework, we also need the mechanism to catch arsonists. We have made many arrests. Every day, even now as we speak, arrests are being made.”
Mayor Giorgos Stasinopoulos referred to the Shipwreck and the necessity of an escape route. He told the deputy minister in detail that “we have the matter of the Shipwreck that must be resolved in the immediate future. We have currently taken the initiative and want to manage the Shipwreck which is a landmark. We have the knowledge, services and staffing to manage it. We step on our feet and want to reach as high as possible for the safety of tourists, for the safety of Zakynthos and for the safety of our infrastructure. No other tourist spot in Greece is managed by anyone other than the locals. An escape route must also be built, so that the Shipwreck is not closed and tourists do not protest.”
The deputy governor of Zakynthos, Konstantinos Kapodistrias, raised with the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the need to create a Special Operations Unit (EMODE) in Zakynthos.
#Parliament #Friday #contract #purchase #firefighting #aircraft
