Greece's capital region is working towards a flood-proof environment

Attica's governor is pursuing a dogged fight to make his region safe, battling bureaucratic hurdles and lack of funding.

Transcript

00:00Work is in full swing in Greece's capital region Attica

00:05to make it flood-proof for the winter. Local crews are cleaning streams

00:10that could threaten many areas.

00:15For the governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias,

00:19here on a visit to get an impression of the progress being made,

00:22this is essential work. However,

00:26it is beset with problems.

00:56There are many problems and many casualties.

01:03According to Attica's periphery,

01:06cleaning of 19 streams has been completed in more than 10 km,

01:11while by the end of October it is estimated that cleaning of 19 more streams

01:16will have been completed and in total more than 30 km will have been cleaned.

01:21Delays of important projects in local government

01:24due to bureaucracy or lack of resources are common.

01:27But Nikos Hardalias has submitted a detailed proposal

01:31which can be implemented step by step.

01:35Part of the proposal is in progress

01:38on the way we should implement these projects

01:41so that we don't lose a lot of precious time.

01:45Some important steps have been taken,

01:48but a comprehensive review of the legal tools

01:52and financial tools are needed.

01:54Because projects without money do not exist.

01:57Governments easily send us the approvals,

01:59but they also have to pay the necessary taxes.

02:02Without money we cannot implement projects.

02:05The region had previously suffered severe damage from massive wildfires

02:09which reached the northern suburbs of Athens earlier this month.