Concerns over winter as prices continue to rise

THE approach of winter is sparking concern over TRNC households facing continuing price hikes in electricity, gas and food despite a recent strengthening of the TL against foreign currencies.

According to Kıbrıs, the Turkish-language sister newspaper of Cyprus Today, recent increases of up to 50 per cent in the cost of heating and feeding a family have left many fearing the onset of cold weather, especially as jobs are threatened due to the ongoing economic crisis.

“Families are concerned about the high cost of essential items, especially keeping warm and fed during the coming winter months,” reported the daily.

“Those who used bottled gas because it was cheaper than electricity, which is simply unaffordable to many, have seen the price of a bottle rise from 46TL last year to 59TL and now to 80TL.

“The price of wood was 500TL a truck-load last year but is now a minimum 600TL, thus pushing up the price of using it for heating and cooking instead of electricity or gas.”

Families facing financial difficulties and an uncertain future were offered little comfort by government officials, with Abdullah Aktolgalı, head of the Environmental Protection Department saying that people fuelling woodburners and stoves with rubbish that caused air pollution would face “heavy fines” if caught.

“Our personnel will be carrying out checks to catch anyone burning material containing plastics or other chemical-laden material,” he warned.

Forestry Department staff will also be on the watch for people illegally cutting down trees for firewood, warned its director, Ercan Poyraz, who added: “We have already started carrying out continuous checks.”