Gov’t gets EU rap for Asopos
European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas yesterday condemned the government for failing to take the necessary action to curb the influx of toxic chemicals into the Asopos River, which supplies millions of Athenians with drinking water. «The data provided by Greek authorities to the European Commission confirmed the absence of any adequate planning and management of dangerous waste in the region of the Asopos,» Dimas said in response to a question submitted by Dimitris Papadimoulis, an MEP for the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA). Dimas said he had briefed the EC about two university studies that reveal high concentrations of carcinogenic chemicals in the water of the Asopos. These results contradict assurances made by the Environment and Public Works Ministry last August that the Asopos no longer contained traces of toxic chromium.
