Dialogos

Mazotos Community Council Protests Mobile Desalination Unit

Published January 22, 2026, 06:00
Mazotos Community Council Protests Mobile Desalination Unit

The Mazotos Community Council is strongly protesting the government's decision to install a mobile desalination unit in the village's sea area. The Council will hold a protest rally on Saturday, January 24th, demanding the revocation of the decision, which it deems arbitrary and hasty, as it is not accompanied by an environmental study or consultation with the local community. The Community Council has sent a letter of protest to the President of the Republic, the Ministers of Interior and Agriculture, the political parties, the Larnaca Provincial Administration Organization, and the District Officer of Larnaca, outlining the reasons for its opposition to the project. The letter emphasizes that the decision violates the principles of environmental governance, as no assessment of environmental impacts has been carried out. The Mazotos area is characterized as a sensitive ecosystem with significant biodiversity, protected species, and fishing activity, while tourism is also developing rapidly. The Community Council had been informed by the Water Development Department of the intention to install the unit, but there was no substantial response to its requests for compensatory measures, such as reduced water prices or priority hiring of local residents. The President of the Mazotos Community Council, George Dimitriou Pafiti, stated that the community will continue its mobilizations until its demands are met and its opinion on the project is taken into consideration.