Chr. Triantopoulos: The implementation of the plan for support and rehabilitation of earthquake-stricken areas in Crete continues

“The government’s goal remains twofold: To reach all the support measures quickly to those who are entitled to and need them, and to proceed with the rehabilitation as soon as possible, through the cooperation of all,” said the Undersecretary to the Prime Minister. for issues of State Aid and Rehabilitation from Natural Disasters, Christos Triantopoulos, who visited again, the earthquake-stricken area of ​​Heraklion, Crete.

Mr. Triantopoulos, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, and the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, had extended meetings with local and productive bodies and visited schools and places of temporary accommodation in suitable accommodation. .

According to a government announcement, during the meetings, the implementation of measures to support and rehabilitate the earthquake-stricken areas of Crete was analyzed, which continues at an intensive pace.

Specifically, and in parallel with the implementation of measures concerning the suspension of tax liabilities, the exemption from ENFIA and the suspension of insurance liabilities, the suspension of any enforcement action on movable and immovable property, and the implementation and launch of other support measures, It is worth noting that:

The granting of the first aid by the Ministry of Finance for housing assistance, for subsidies to companies and for the compensation of household goods, continues to those who have applied on the platform arogi.gov.gr. Taking into account the current payment, a total of 31.3 million euros have been granted to 3,384 applicants of our earthquake-stricken fellow citizens. Worth noting. that while the declaration process on the platform has been completed, the first aid payment process continues after checks and crossings, especially in cases where the applications are far from the image resulting from the autopsies and other data, while, in order to leave no one beneficiary outside the aid framework offered by the first aid, the government and the Ministry of Finance evaluate the existing data, so that at a later time, in cooperation with the Independent Public Revenue Authority, it will be possible to submit an application to the platform for specific cases.

Extraordinary funding to local authorities, first and second tier, is currently 9.8 million euros. In particular, the credit commitment of 8 million euros to the Region of Crete for the repair of damage to infrastructure and networks has been approved and launched by the Public Investment Program of the Ministry of Development and Investment, while extraordinary financing decisions have been issued 1,260,000 euros to the municipality of Minoa Pediada and 530,000 euros to the municipality of Archanes-Asterousia from the Public Investment Program through the Ministry of Interior, for restorations, shaping the hospitality of earthquake victims in huts, promoting demolition, as well as feeding and hosting the beneficiaries – with the private donor is important, especially in the area of ​​hospitality and catering. This is extraordinary funding, which of course will increase in the next period, through new phases, as the planning for the relevant needs matures.

The provision of prefabricated school halls and dormitories is continued by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Building Infrastructure SA (KTYP) from the first moment, implementing a program close to 3.9 million euros. Specifically, KTYP has sent or is launching the mission in the following days, about 80 school halls with the respective auxiliary spaces, while it immediately proceeded to the repair of two school complexes with minor damage, with the sum of its work amounting to 2.5 million . euro. At the same time, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has launched the allocation of 124 houses (64 have already been allocated and 60 will arrive in the coming days) at a total cost of 1.4 million euros, while depending on the needs, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport may proceed and in a new competition. Of course, the contribution of private donors to dormitories and school halls is also important, which further increases the possibilities of meeting the needs that have been created in the earthquake-stricken areas.

The framework for the provision of housing assistance is provided by the competent services of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, so that after the provision of first aid for housing assistance, but also the completion of thousands of inspections – rapid autopsies (primary inspection) and re-inspections (secondary) our earthquake-stricken fellow citizens to be able to repair or rebuild their building, which has been affected by the earthquake, with financial support from the state, and with the amount of total support under the housing assistance to be estimated – as approved – in EUR 175 million. Also, for the better operation of this framework and for the better service of the citizens, there is a relevant office in Arkalochori.

The process of subsidizing the affected companies through the Ministry of Finance for losses on other assets, proceeds from the competent state aid committees of the Region that carry out the autopsies and the assessments regarding the losses of the companies, so that in the immediate future consolidated statements of beneficiaries are sent to the ministry and the grant phase is launched.

In addition – as Mr. Triantopoulos pointed out – it is worth noting that, among other things, from the Ministry of Interior, recently projects were included in the program “A. Tritsis” concerning infrastructure in the municipalities of Minoa-Pediada and Archanes-Asterousia, by the Ministry of Culture The Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy is launching emergency funding for the immediate restoration of damage related to flood networks and water infrastructure in the affected area. while at the same time the financing of reconstruction and rehabilitation studies is underway in cooperation with the local authorities.

“In a context of close cooperation with all stakeholders – ministries, local government and productive agencies – the implementation of measures to support and rehabilitate the earthquake-stricken areas of Crete continues at the same intensive pace as from the first moment. through the significant financial support of the State, for first aid to households and businesses, for schools and infrastructure, for the hospitality and support of earthquake victims, for the houses and buildings that were affected and, of course, for the “Support measures to which are added the very important offers and sponsorships of individuals, with the immediate result of helping and relieving our earthquake-stricken fellow citizens” concluded Mr. Triantopoulos.

SOURCE: AMPE