Temploni Cultural Society: “If that’s the way they want to play it, we can do the same!”
waste management
19 Jul 2018
/ 07:29
CORFU. The waste management crisis is escalating.
Temploni Cultural Society is prepared to take things to the limit following the charges pressed by the Cleansing Service against the President M. Papanikolopoulou and the deputy Secretary L. Kolangi. The charges were pressed in the early hours of Tuesday morning, following the board members’ illegal entry into Temploni landfill and their detention by the police.
The seven board members decided to enter the landfill to verify if the information they had received that the Cleansing Service was dumping rubbish behind the cells where it couldn’t be seen was correct. ‘We’ve known for a long time that there is now a fourth mountain of waste in the composting area,” says the President. “In any case, the drones provide undeniable footage. However, we also received information from residents that, apart from the composting area, rubbish was also being deposited behind the cells that have been closed following the court verdict.
“We asked the Deputy Mayor for Cleansing Services to grant us permission to enter the facility but didn’t receive a response. We entered the landfill through the half-open gate and spoke to the security guard, whom we asked to let his superior know. We didn’t enter like thieves, although we could have done so through any other spot - the place is not fenced. We saw that no rubbish had been deposited behind the cells, but there has clearly been illegal dumping in the composting area.”
Magda Papanikolopoulou spoke of their intention to sue the Solid Waste Management Association and Corfu Municipality for violation of environmental regulations. The last time that happened, on 20th May, the Court ruled against the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and essentially prohibited any other activity on the landfill except that of the baler. “From the moment that the three cells were closed, we knew very well that rubbish was being piled up next to the baler but we showed tolerance.”
They are concerned by the fact that the charges pressed by the Association are against the President M. Papanikolopoulou herself and Lambrini Kolangi, the deputy secretary of the Society. “We are troubled by the fact that they are suing two individuals, since all seven board members entered the landfill! They could at least have pressed charges against only me, since I am the Society’s representative!”
Magda Papanikolopoulou told Enimerosi that before taking legal action, they will first of all consult with their legal advisors. She also feels that she is obliged to inform the Prosecutor, Ms. Tataki.
Finally, she said that, “Unfortunately, the current municipal authority has followed the same path as all the previous local authorities. We have arrived at the point where we have rubbish at Temploni, Lefkimmi and on the streets as well as a war with the riot police. The current municipal authority must take full responsibility. Temploni and Lefkimmi are not to blame for this. If that’s the way they want to play it, then we can do the same!”
The seven board members decided to enter the landfill to verify if the information they had received that the Cleansing Service was dumping rubbish behind the cells where it couldn’t be seen was correct. ‘We’ve known for a long time that there is now a fourth mountain of waste in the composting area,” says the President. “In any case, the drones provide undeniable footage. However, we also received information from residents that, apart from the composting area, rubbish was also being deposited behind the cells that have been closed following the court verdict.
“We asked the Deputy Mayor for Cleansing Services to grant us permission to enter the facility but didn’t receive a response. We entered the landfill through the half-open gate and spoke to the security guard, whom we asked to let his superior know. We didn’t enter like thieves, although we could have done so through any other spot - the place is not fenced. We saw that no rubbish had been deposited behind the cells, but there has clearly been illegal dumping in the composting area.”
Magda Papanikolopoulou spoke of their intention to sue the Solid Waste Management Association and Corfu Municipality for violation of environmental regulations. The last time that happened, on 20th May, the Court ruled against the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and essentially prohibited any other activity on the landfill except that of the baler. “From the moment that the three cells were closed, we knew very well that rubbish was being piled up next to the baler but we showed tolerance.”
They are concerned by the fact that the charges pressed by the Association are against the President M. Papanikolopoulou herself and Lambrini Kolangi, the deputy secretary of the Society. “We are troubled by the fact that they are suing two individuals, since all seven board members entered the landfill! They could at least have pressed charges against only me, since I am the Society’s representative!”
Magda Papanikolopoulou told Enimerosi that before taking legal action, they will first of all consult with their legal advisors. She also feels that she is obliged to inform the Prosecutor, Ms. Tataki.
Finally, she said that, “Unfortunately, the current municipal authority has followed the same path as all the previous local authorities. We have arrived at the point where we have rubbish at Temploni, Lefkimmi and on the streets as well as a war with the riot police. The current municipal authority must take full responsibility. Temploni and Lefkimmi are not to blame for this. If that’s the way they want to play it, then we can do the same!”
