WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1411/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Diversion of the River Evinos
Date: 1998-05-11
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: Peloponnese, engineering structure, environmental impact, hydraulic works, impact study, leisure, sport, tourism, water supply, watercourse













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91998E1411

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1411/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Diversion of the River Evinos  


Official Journal C 050 , 22/02/1999 P. 0034 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1411/98by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission(11 May 1998)Subject: Diversion of the River EvinosThe diversion of the River Evinos (Aitolia-Akarnania, Greece) to supply water to Athens was given the go-ahead on the condition stipulated in the environmental impact assessment that a permanent minimum flow of one cubic metre per second was maintained downstream from the dam which was constructed to effect the diversion. This quantity was deemed necessary in order to mitigate the adverse effects on the natural environment in the valley below the dam.In addition, Mesolongi is also supplied with water from the Evinos, while plans are also in preparation to supply Andirrion. Moreover, there are very strong indications that the volume of water in the Evinos is related to the quantity of water used in Nafpaktos.Three companies have recently set up facilities for rafting on the Evinos below the dam, creating jobs and generally boosting the development of tourism in the area. However, visits to the site clearly reveal that the obligation to maintain a flow of one cubic metre per second is not being complied with and that the adverse environmental and economic effects are highly visible.Can the Commission act to ensure compliance with the environmental impact assessment on which the diversion of the Evinos is based? Can it also help to bring the hydrogeological study of the area required under the EIA to a speedy conclusion as it has not yet been carried out despite the fact that the diversion is already in operation.Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission(26 June 1998)Meeting the environmental terms of Ministerial Decision No 12450 of 23 June 1992 concluding the environmental impact assessment of the "Evinos" project is a legal obligation for the Hellenic authorities. When financing the project via the cohesion fund the Commission insisted on the need to meet those terms, including an obligation to guarantee a minimum flow rate of 1 m3 per second.That condition was included in the decision to finance the project, which also obliges the Minister for the Environment to check that it is met.The Commission received a positive reply from the Hellenic authorities at the most recent meeting of the ad hoc monitoring committee for the project to supply Athens with water from the Evinos river held on 9 June 1998, when information was requested concerning the maintenance, or otherwise, of a minimum flow rate of 1 m3 per second at present. The Commission is also anxious to stress that its experts regularly check whether that obligation is met.The hydrogeological study was asked for by the Commission when it took its decision to finance the Evinos project (No 3438/3 of December 1993). That study was carried out by an independent consultancy, and following its approval by the Ministries for the Environment and Public Works, it was sent to the Commission in October 1996.