Gravanis urges cancellation of 16% water price increase in Gümülcine

Antonis Gravanis, leader of the main opposition list in the Municipality of Gümülcine, has formally submitted a proposal calling for the reversal of a 16% water tariff increase imposed by the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company, DEYAK.

Gravanis described the increase as an “unjust and socially harmful choice,” arguing that the decision shifts financial burdens directly onto citizens rather than addressing structural inefficiencies.

“A Political Choice, Not a Necessity”

In a written statement, Gravanis emphasized that his faction opposed the hike from the outset. He claimed the tariff increase was not inevitable but rather a political decision to pass rising operational costs to households.

According to Gravanis, the financial gap the municipality seeks to cover — approximately €1.1 million — could instead be addressed through expenditure cuts.

He pointed to significant increases in specific budget categories:

• Payments to third parties reportedly rose from €1.293 million in 2021 to more than €2.8 million in 2022.
• Administrative expenses increased from €1.24 million in 2019 to nearly €3 million in 2022.
• Personnel salary costs, however, remained largely stable during the same period.

Gravanis argued that these two expenditure categories alone generated an additional financial burden of roughly €3.4 million, well above the shortfall the tariff hike aims to offset.

Water Losses Raise Environmental and Economic Concerns

Beyond financial management, Gravanis also highlighted the issue of water losses within the municipal system.

According to the figures cited:

• Approximately 7 million cubic meters of water enter the system annually.
• Only 3.7 million cubic meters are billed.
• More than 3 million cubic meters are reportedly lost due to leaks, illegal connections, or unregistered consumption.

Gravanis stressed that addressing water loss would yield both environmental and economic benefits, reducing pressure on consumers while improving sustainability.

“Water Is a Social Right”

The opposition leader concluded that water must be treated as a fundamental social good rather than a revenue-balancing tool. He called for DEYAK to operate with greater transparency, efficiency, and citizen-centered management.

The debate over water tariffs in Gümülcine now places fiscal discipline, public accountability, and infrastructure modernization at the center of the municipality’s policy agenda.