Urgent Investigation Launched into Illegal Constructions in Schinias Park

The news in Greek

1. παραβίαση  (f.)
   Η πράξη του να μη συμμορφώνεται κάποιος με έναν κανόνα ή νόμο. ↩︎
2. περιβαλλοντικός
   Σχετικός με το περιβάλλον, τη φύση ή την οικολογία. ↩︎
3. κατασκευή  (f.)
   Η διαδικασία δημιουργίας ή κατασκευής κάτι. ↩︎
4. πολυτελής
   Που έχει μεγάλη πολυτέλεια και άνεση. ↩︎
5. προστατευόμενος
   Που παρέχεται ή χρειάζεται προστασία. ↩︎
6. πρακτική  (f.)
   Συνηθισμένος τρόπος δράσης ή εφαρμογής. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What type of buildings are being constructed in Schinias Park?

Question 2: Why are the authorities concerned about the constructions in Schinias Park?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
παραβίαση  (f.)	violation
περιβαλλοντικός	environmental
κατασκευή  (f.)	construction
πολυτελής	luxurious
προστατευόμενος	protected
πρακτική  (f.)	practices

Read the full story

An urgent investigation is underway following reports of serious environmental law violations in the Schinias National Park, Greece. Concerns have arisen over the alleged construction of illegal, luxurious bungalows within the park, a protected area designated under the Natura 2000 network.

Order for the investigation was given by Aristidis Koreas, the head of the Athens Prosecutor’s Office, in response to media reports highlighting the appearance of these structures. The Hellenic Police’s Directorate for the Protection of Property Rights, Cultural Heritage, and Environment is tasked with conducting the preliminary examination. This inquiry aims to determine whether actions constituting felonies or misdemeanors have occurred, focusing on unauthorized land use changes and illegal provision of electricity to structures on forest land.

The controversy revolves around a private forest area where caravans were reportedly replaced with pre-fabricated homes, which are now being rented out as villas. Although this issue recently came to the fore, indications suggest it has a longer history, with past measures already taken to address it.

Further intensifying scrutiny, the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy dispatched a team from the Inspectorate of Natural Environment and Climate Change Organization, alongside the Financial Police. They conducted a site inspection at this controversial resort development. This action underscores the Ministry’s commitment to uphold all legal standards without compromise, and warns of penalties in cases of urban planning law violations.

According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, the development in question features 13 luxurious bungalows situated only 30 metres from the beach. The area where these buildings were erected is private but identified as forest land, rendering it unsuitable for construction. This was confirmed by both the Organization for Natural Environment and Planning of Marathonas and the Forestry Department of Kapandriti, which initially ordered the demolition of these illegal structures.

However, despite these directives, the property owner, who is also a hotel operator, has postponed the demolition through legal challenges, continuing to rent out the bungalows online, per ongoing reports.

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