During a press conference, Mr. Kouretas emphasized the urgent need for the phased implementation of the Thessaly Water Management Plan (SDLLAP) and the corresponding plan for Central Greece (Acheloos Water Plan), particularly for the mountainous Agrafa region in Thessaly, where unfinished Acheloos projects have been abandoned for the past fifteen years. He stressed, “Without water, agricultural production cannot exist, and without agriculture, there is no future for Thessaly—or for the country as a whole. For all these reasons, we call on the government to take immediate action to restart the Acheloos projects.”
Mr. Kouretas was joined by Professor George Balia from Harokopio University and his water policy advisor, Kostas Goumas. He highlighted the severe drought conditions in Thessaly this year and warned of the significant environmental and economic consequences that could arise if the SDLLAP Thessaly is not implemented. He noted that the abandonment of irrigated farmland could reduce agricultural income by 25%, a factor critical to the retention of local farmers and the continuation of agricultural livelihoods.
The Regional Governor called for a similar approach to that recently applied to Athens’ EYDAP, including full planning, government commitment—including from the Prime Minister—on timelines, financial resources, and responsible implementing bodies.
Water Scarcity and Environmental Challenges
According to Mr. Kouretas, despite major economic, technological, and social changes in Greece, Thessaly’s water security challenges remain unresolved. Risks from recurrent floods in the Pineios River basin are increasing, drought and water scarcity persist, and ecological degradation of aquatic ecosystems has intensified over recent decades. The root cause remains the long-standing imbalance between water demand (primarily for irrigation) and limited water availability, compounded by over-extraction from approximately 33,000 wells, pushing the region toward desertification.
Threat of Rural Depopulation
Mr. Kouretas also highlighted the forced restructuring of crops in Thessaly. The decline in irrigated land, combined with shrinking agricultural income, has prompted discussions about crop types in the region. He warned that without addressing the water deficit, irrigated areas could decrease by 1,000,000 stremmas, reducing turnover by €300–400 million annually and lowering agricultural income by 25%.
Call to Action and Institutional Strengthening
The Governor urged the government to implement the Thessaly and Central Greece water management plans in an orderly and timely manner, particularly in the Agrafa region. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening the newly established Water Management Organization of Thessaly (ODYTH), calling for faster operational procedures to ensure its success as a model water management entity for Greece.
Finally, Mr. Kouretas requested that the government finalize policies affecting Thessaly’s agricultural future, including crop strategy and the necessary infrastructure projects—such as reservoirs and transport networks—to protect ecosystems, underground aquifers, and the Pineios River. He reiterated the need for immediate, transparent governmental decisions in coordination with local stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for Thessaly.
Present at the press conference were Chryssa Tsaganou, Chair of the Thessaly Regional Council; regional deputy governors Maria Galliou (Larissa) and Chryssa Ntinti (Trikala); the thematic deputy governor for Social Policy and Family Christos Gourobinos; ODYTH President Nik. Derkas; EDYTHE member Tasos Barboutis; and professors from NTUA, including Koutsogiannis and Mamasis.
