Efforts to secure a court order for the evacuation of the Seagate apartment building in Germasogeia have been on hold since 20 May, pending the examination of an owner’s administrative appeal.
The Limassol District Local Government Organisation, known as EOA Limassol, expects to submit its report to the Interior Minister by the end of August. The minister will then decide whether the building was justifiedly classified as dangerous.
Appeal halts evacuation process
EOA Limassol President Yiannis Tsouloftas told CNA on Monday that the organisation had been instructed to prepare a report documenting the risks posed by the building.
The instructions followed an appeal by an owner challenging the organisation’s decision to declare the property dangerous. As Interior Minister and head of the reviewing authority, the minister must examine the report before the process can proceed.
“Our report is expected to be ready within August and will be sent to the Interior Minister, who will study it. We will then await his decision,” Tsouloftas said.
He added that the organisation would have legal grounds to proceed only if its assessment is upheld.
The case came under renewed scrutiny following the collapse of an apartment building on 11 April.
Further legal complications
Tsouloftas said the application for an evacuation order also faced other complications. In one case, an owner has died, requiring additional legal procedures before action can be taken.
He argued that the available legal mechanisms were ineffective and time-consuming, saying the delays in the Seagate case demonstrated the problem in practice.
Call for stronger legal powers
The EOA Limassol president renewed his call for authorities to introduce faster and more effective procedures for dealing with dangerous buildings.
He also urged lawmakers to advance the bill governing dangerous buildings, which has remained pending before Parliament for some time.
Source: CNA.
