Residents of Mazotos protest government plans for a new desalination plant

Residents and the Community Council of Mazotos in the Larnaca district are strongly opposing the government's plan to establish a mobile desalination plant in their area. The Ministry of Agriculture, led by Dr. Maria Panayiotou, asserts that all legal procedures were followed transparently, describing the project as a critical component to secure water supply by January 2027 with a daily capacity of 40,000 cubic meters. During a tense meeting on Monday, community members and their consultants questioned the potential environmental impact on local Posidonia seagrass meadows and the adequacy of the ministry's environmental studies. The Community Council has filed a legal challenge against the Council of Ministers' decision to seek an injunction to suspend construction works. The Water Development Department opened tenders for the project on June 9. Both parties failed to reach a consensus, and the case is scheduled to continue in court on June 29.