Philenews

Illegal Waste Dumping in Mouttagiaka: "The Underworld is in Control – If it Rains, Everything Could Come Down Towards the Residential Area"

Published February 10, 2026, 14:24
Illegal Waste Dumping in Mouttagiaka: "The Underworld is in Control – If it Rains, Everything Could Come Down Towards the Residential Area"

The Parliamentary Committee on Refugees discussed the problems facing the Mouttagiaka community, focusing on land title issues and illegal construction waste dumping. Regarding land titling, there are pending issues in various phases (z', e', and th'), but the Land Registry assured that the process is at an advanced stage. Additionally, there are problems with land encroachment due to inaccurate plans, for which a solution process has been agreed upon. A particularly serious problem is the illegal dumping of construction waste in an area above the refugee settlement, which causes nuisance and endangers the safety of residents, as there is a fear of landslides in the event of rain. The Department of Environment is struggling to intervene due to intimidation of its officials by offenders, while the Police are slow to respond to complaints. The Chairman of the Committee, Nikos Kettiros, stated that land titling issues affect many settlements in Cyprus, while similar cases to Mouttagiaka exist in Polemidia and Dromolaxia. The situation is worsened by the lack of controls and impunity of offenders, creating a sense of insecurity among residents. The Committee pledged to continue to push for the resolution of the problems, calling for the intervention of the Ministries of Justice and Agriculture to end the illegal dumping and protect the environment and public health. The Police will be invited to a subsequent meeting to provide explanations regarding the delay in responding to complaints.