In Cyprus, a very old water tank is causing a big problem for a new road. The tank is in Strovolos and is over 200 years old. It is directly where the government wants to build a new four-lane motorway. Now, after a study, people agree that to save the old site, they must change the road plans. The new idea is to raise the road so it goes over the historic tank.
The water tank is important. People built it around 1817 to collect water for the local community. It is very big, built from local stone, and was a clever piece of engineering for its time. Old maps show it has always been there. Today, it is in a park near a museum and is a real connection to the area's past.
The problem started when planners chose the road's path. The issue went to a government committee. Different departments and environmental groups all said the site is too valuable to destroy. Katerina Hadjistylli from the Ecologists Movement said destroying it would be "a serious historical blunder and a blow to the cultural heritage of our country." She also said locals used to call the water "the despot’s water," which shows its cultural importance.
The suggested solution is to build the road higher, like a bridge, over the tank. This is possible but will cost more money and take more time. The other choice is to continue with the first plan and destroy the old monument.
This is an important decision. It is a fight between needing a modern road and saving a piece of history that you cannot replace. What happens here will show how Cyprus plans for the future while protecting its past.