K.Ah. Karamanlis: The ping pong of responsibilities does not help anyone … Where responsibilities should be attributed

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Costas Karamanlis, referred to the responsibility for the suffering of drivers on Attiki Odos and train passengers due to the bad weather “Elpida”, speaking tonight in the main news bulletin of the Mega TV station. Mr. Karamanlis first apologized to the government to those who suffered. “This is an extreme weather phenomenon, but the truth is that it does not justify everything. So we understand the anger and the sadness and the frustration of the citizens,” he said. He noted that “meetings were held at the Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection and assurances were given by all concessionaires that they will take all necessary measures to avoid living these images of shame. Unfortunately this did not happen.”

Mr. Karamanlis stated that the concessionaire, under the concession contract, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the road and reiterated that “all assurances had been given, however what had not been done” had not been done. He noted that for the first time, in addition to the legal procedure established by this government to assign responsibilities where they exist, another step was taken, as the Prime Minister himself requested the payment of 2,000 euros per car, which was trapped in Attica. Street. “Apart from the payment of this amount, there is a special institutional framework that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has established to see where there are responsibilities. And the bells will be heavy and we are committed to do that,” said Mr. Karamanlis. He noted that in the past this institutional framework did not exist, which this government instituted in 2020. “So this committee is being convened and because I know most viewers will say that there is usually a committee to cover up the responsibilities, “Therefore, this committee has already been convened a day after the incident and very soon we will examine what exactly has happened, who is responsible and I think the responsibilities here are clear,” he added.

Mr. Karamanlis assured that the drivers who were trapped on Attiki Odos and will receive the 2,000 euros do not lose the right to take legal action against the company.

Asked about the Ministry of Civil Protection and crisis management, he said: “There was an unprecedented weather phenomenon. There was this incredible suffering and failure. But since yesterday a huge effort has been made by the Ministry of Climate Change to free 2,500 people and Attiki Odos, which was done. After a delay? After a delay? After an inconvenience? After an inconvenience. for that, but the state tried and found a solution so that we can not have worse events “.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport also stressed that “both in the case of TRAINOSE and in the case of Attiki Odos, which are private companies, the government comes for the first time and demands the payment of a large compensation and then there will be a search for those responsibilities “. “By no means are we satisfied with what happened yesterday. Whoever says that I think provokes public opinion. Responsibilities exist. They will be held accountable. I think at this stage doing a ping pong of responsibilities does not help anyone. Tomorrow there will be “All the competent committees will be convened and we are here to apologize for what happened and where the responsibilities must be attributed, this will be done immediately”, concluded Mr. Karamanlis.
Source: AMPE

Source From: Capital

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