Letter to the Coordinator of Decentralized Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia, K. Vassilios Michelakis sent on Friday 12 June Member of Parliament N.. Grevena, K. Andreas Patsis regarding the long delay in approving the budget to cover timber for individual needs of the residents of the Prefecture of Grevena.
The letter follows in detail:
To: Coordinator of Decentralized Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia, K. Vassilios Michelakis
Sharing:Governor of Western Macedonia, K. George Kasapidis
Deputy Regional Commander. Grevena, K. Ioannis Giatsios
Head of Grevena Forest Department, Mrs. Catherine Lanza
Theme: "Budget to meet the needs of individual timber residents of the Prefecture of Grevena"
Mr. Michelakis,
As you know very well, the issue of meeting the needs of individual timber is vital for the residents of the Prefecture of Grevena. In a Prefecture mainly mountainous and therefore with increased heating needs that reach almost nine months a year and with residents who unfortunately have one of the lowest average incomes in the Greek Territory, the supply of firewood is not just a matter of living but of survival.
Despite the serious problems that were observed last year and which resulted in many residents of the mountainous areas not receiving the firewood they were entitled to, although he was entitled to them, Unfortunately, the "lesson did not become a lesson" and as it turns out, if the procedures provided by you do not move immediately., the people of Grevena will face the same situation once again, if not worse.
As I was informed, after communication with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, for the financial year 2020 has already been issued under no. 193201 decision by 19.12.2019 for the “Distribution of Credits of the Regular Budget of the Decentralized Administration of Epirus- Western Macedonia year 2020 », according to which the amount of € 468,500 was allocated to ALE 2420989001. However, It's been six months and no budget has yet been approved by the Grevena Forest Department., in order to start the logging process. After all, According to the current legislation, the regional Forest Services are subject to the Decentralized Administrations and the responsibilities for the preparation and execution of their regular budget are exercised by the Finance Department., of the General Directorate of Internal Operations of the relevant Decentralized Administrations.
In fact, Two additional management studies have already been carried out by the Grevena Forest Directorate for the current year., which practically means that there is the possibility to serve all the residents of the areas of our Prefecture that cover their needs for individual timber from the public forests..
For those reasons, I call on you to proceed immediately and without further delay the process of approving the budget to the Directorate of Forests of Grevena, so that the necessary actions can be taken immediately and in order to prevent the delays and problems that occurred last year..
In addition, I would like to draw your attention to the distribution of the budget to our Prefecture, as it is necessary to take into account both the factor of the particularly difficult weather conditions prevailing in Grevena compared to other Prefectures under your jurisdiction, as well as the income factor that concerns the residents of our area, criteria that should be evaluated with due diligence and reflected in the budget that you will eventually approve.
The supply of firewood through this process for many people in Grevena is the only way out of heating for the entire difficult winter of our region and that is why it can no longer be accepted even if a resident of our mountain villages is left without wood.
Andreas Patsis,
Member of Parliament N.. Grevena- New Democracy
