Construction of building in riverbeds and streams, which causes flooding during winter, is to be outlawed. The parliamentary environmental committee discussed the problem of building in riverbeds and related problems caused by preventing the usual flow of water, at a meeting in Nicosia. The president of the committee, Andres Facontis, underlined that the problem is prevalent in the district of Paphos.

The main cause of concern is the improper registration of river tributaries and streams, many of which do not show up at all on government plans. This means that in many cases, permission has been granted for construction and development to go ahead on ravines and in riverbeds. This has caused major problems during the winter when rainfall is at a maximum. The committee will now attempt to register all of the waterways in Paphos however small, in an attempt to prevent further problems. Building in these conditions has created untold problem and caused misery for many homeowners who end up with severe flooding of their properties during the winter months.