An engineer has said that the reason why Kyrenia is always flooded in the rainy season is that there are no topographical maps of the entire country. Engineers are working from maps which were produced in the days of British rule, Yusuf Karaderi a geodesy and photogrammetry engineer has said. Not enough attention has been given to this particular field of study, he noted.
The basic problem is simple to resolve by constructing a topographical map of the region including sewage systems. This must be made prior to any further building. Uncontrolled building has covered flood plains and blocked riverbeds, rain gullies are blocked with soil and building rubble, leading to annual flooding said Karaderi.
We need to look at the big picture, he said. The infrastructure is weak, and there are no professional models to work from. A study is needed to assess how much rain falls each year, and from where the water flows. Kyrenia is already suffering from piecemeal building developments. Work needs to be done now to assess what, if anything, can be done in the meanwhile, he pointed out. All these elements need to be included in the Kyrenia Master Plan, said Karaderi. He added that the same problem exists in all the towns including Nicosia and Famagusta.
The other issue is that those who transgress town planning acts get away with it. There is a lack of building inspectors. Political influence and cronyism get in the way and the damage is done, he said.
Yeni Duzen
