Loopholes protect quarries
An administrative court yesterday reversed a decision by the Council of State, the country’s highest administrative court, with the issuance of a ruling that will allow the operation of two quarries in eastern Attica that had been previously ordered to shut down. Legal sources said the two quarry companies – Markopoulou Latomeia and Stavrou Latomeia – have taken advantage of legal loopholes and managed to sidestep court decisions instructing them to shut down. They had been ordered to stop operating in May last year due to the negative impact their operations were having on the environment and local residents’ health. The companies have refused to follow court orders and continue to operate as normal. Legal sources suggested the quarries are probably backed by senior political figures that allow them to blatantly disregard laws. The Environment Ministry also stepped in and fined the two firms a total of 2 million euros in January for violating environmental laws. It is not clear whether the fines have been paid.
