Flood restoration works worth 1.4 bln euros to start in Thessaly this summer, minister says

The assignment of 1.4-billion-euro projects to restore storm ‘Daniel’s’ destruction in Thessaly will begin this summer, Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nikos Tachiaos said on Saturday, during a one-day event on climate crisis, catastrophes, and state support.

The minister was addressing an event organized by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and the Prespes Municipality.

As Tachiaos explained, 470 million euros of the total relates to railroad infrastructure, particularly the network from Lamia to Larissa, and from Paleofarsala to Kalabaka, which has sustained severe damage. Another 900 million euros will restore road infrastructure in towns like Argithea of Mouzaki and the Limni Plastina township. The included towns and villages are inhabited mainly in the summer and prioritizing them would ensure the residents do not desert the area for cities.

“Funds are not inexhaustible, despite the fact the destruction form the severe weather is huge and cannot be fixed quickly, although residents wish and wait for that,” the deputy minister said. He added that some restoration works also have to contend with contracting companies’ lack of technical staff and a large number of machinery for public works.

Restoration works in Thessaly after ‘Daniel’ obliged the government “to remove from the Recovery Fund projects worth 600 million euros, and these were very important works,” Tachiaos said, mentioning the Tsinikas Dam that will be funded by the Public Investments Fund, and the Preveza-Lefkada island water supply project.