Master plan for Thessaly: Avgenakis proposals for water resources management

The transformation of the crisis into an opportunity to make proper use of water resources, the Minister for Rural Development and Food stressed, speaking to Real fm, on the occasion of the handover of the master plan for Thessaly, HVA International to the Prime Minister. Specifically, as Lefteris Avgenakis said, the master plan for Thessaly includes innovative proposals and modern infrastructure which is probably more economical than the pharaonic-type structures designed years ago, some of which are currently out of season and reality. As the Minister pointed out, targeted proposals are being made for smaller projects with greater coverage and with a view to greater water retention. On the master plan, as the minister said, he begins consulting the Prime Minister with institutional bodies in Thessaly and farmers. Referring to farmers’ claims, he said that the CFP aims to achieve maximum improvements to make it more functional, less bureaucratic, more friendly and less aggressive towards farmers. And he recalled that Greece has exploited all alliances at European level (Council of Ministers, the PPE and EUMED-9) in order to promote the 19 changes it has proposed. He stated that the Council of Ministers of 26 March was decisive and noted that everything must be done before the European elections. “I have called for the help and proposals of the other parties, so that those of their Eurogroups will fight their own battle,” he added. With regard to the demand of producers for the control of Greekizations, the Minister said that since January sweeping controls have started on the market, on the supermarkets and at the entrance gates of the country, from mixed steps of the Directorate-General for Food of YPAT, the EPET and the ELGO-DIMITRA with the cooperation of the local DAK. As he explained in HPAT an attempt was made to unify controls, through the mixed stages, recognising that there is a multi-arrangement of controls in other ministries. “We put a heavy burden on milk, checks on fruit and vegetables followed. Target controls on both honey and oil continue and they will follow meat. There are problems, so farmers are right. We have seen the gaps and problems in practice,” he said, by announcing further intensification of controls.