Those responsible for the serious problems, threatening the public health in the region of Aspropyrgos do not give a damn. Month and a half after the environmental scandal related to the waste leak in the region of Neoktistes, the arrests of gang members who left tanks of hazardous toxic substances in different parts of the city and the commitment of the local government to eliminate toxic substances, dozens of barrels containing lethal substances remain "forgotten" in the coastal zone of the city.
Those tanks contain the highly dangerous, according to experts, toxic substance Butylglykol and have been for years scattered in areas that are not patrolled, and no one is interested in their removal. At the same time the competent deputy governor of Attica stated that a tender has really been carried out, but a contract has not been signed yet (!) for their removal.
And all this at a time when few days ago, the special secretary in the Inspectorate of Environment and Energy part of the Ministry of Environment Margarita Karavasili had publicly disclosed the existence of local governors, who took bribes to cover with a bit of soil the toxic waste!
Coverage of the live event by zougla.gr became the reason for a complaint of Κ.P., resident of the area, who stressed that various well-wishers: "were leaving barrels of toxic waste, and the municipal authorities are careless. In this area access is free. Even for young children." According to the K.P., these barrels are located in the region for 7-8 months, and new ones are added to them periodically.
While journalists are in the coastal area of Aspropyrgos, they see a lot of tanks filled with Butyglykol, and thrown and abandoned into the fields and on the roads, and the substance (in most cases) has leaked out and has reached the fields where vegetables are grown!
Free access
Extremely disturbing is the fact that the barrels were dumped in places to which everyone has access. It is enough to think about the fact that quite easily a child or some unsuspecting adult can come into contact with these toxic substances.
As noted by the experts the toxic substance in question is flammable, which means that at any moment a fire can be caused (even starting from a cigarette that has not been put off).
What experts say
Officers from zougla.gr got in touch with the research associate at the University of Thrace "Democritus" Nikos Katsaros, who informed them that Butylglykol is a toxic substance and is used mainly in industry, which produces detergents. Nikos Katsaros stresses that this substance is flammable, toxic to skin and eyes and if inhaled it can cause serious respiratory problems.
What was the response of the "responsible persons"
Officers from zougla.gr tried to contact the Mayor of Aspropyrgos, Nikolaos Meletiou to inform them on the matter, but they failed to reach him because the mayor is constantly busy.
Subsequently, they called the Bureau of Environment, where they were informed that they knew about the problem, but the collection and disposal of toxic substances is not the responsibility of the municipality and the regional government.
Ultimately, journalists managed to contact the deputy governor of the Western Attica Stavroula Dimou, which also stated that she is aware of the problem, but stressed that the contract has not been signed yet with the company that will dispose them. "There is an additional problem because we still do not know where the barrels will be taken" she said further.
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