Karaman roads repaired

ROADS in Karaman are being repaired after being carved up to renew mains pipes, leaving villagers without water for up to 15 days and some also without road access.

A Girne Municipality spokesman said yesterday asphalting was now being completed, and assured villagers: “We will notify the Karaman representative Mine Fedai of any future works.”

Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoğlu and Girne Mayor Nidai Güngördü both paid calls on the village after the unexpected disruption provoked complaints.

Trenches were filled in last week and asphalting completed this week after contractors promised the minister they would speed up the work.

Around 40 homes in Oleander Road had fared the worst as their street was dug up with little forewarning, leaving many not just without water but also unable to reach their cars. Long-term resident Jean Clark said: “We were told we would not be affected and then rushed to warn Oleander Road residents to move their cars before the street was dug up, but many were stranded.

“Fortunately there were no emergencies, since emergency services would not have been able to get access either.”

A Girne Municipality spokesman said earlier: “We have replaced the old pipes from 1974 with wider diameter HDPE [high density polyethylene] mains for a better and cleaner supply to be pumped up to the village.

“The old mains were smallergauge asbestos or rusty galvanised pipes which have corroded and leak.”

Some residents questioned the need for the upgrade, saying the original local well water supply had served the village well.

However, the water protocol signed by the TRNC and Turkish governments for the supply and local management of water aims to protect groundwater resources.