The priority of the Government is the drought. and in the management of this catastropheafter the closure of the Canal d’Urgell, the last major concern is to provide solutions to the farmers of the regions of Lleida that use this infrastructure as main faucet. But apart from this immediate need, the ‘president’ Pere Aragones has hinted at a demand this Wednesday: it is proposed that the Generalitat has a voice in the decisions to be taken at Ebro basinsnow in the hands of the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation (CHE).
Aragonès, willing to “assume more responsibilities” in the management of the Ebro and its tributaries
Aragonès has literally spoken of the possibility of “take on more responsibilities in the basins that are not the internal ones”. These words imply the offering of the Government to have more powers over the rivers of western Catalonia (the Ebro and all its tributaries). It is not an issue that has to be put on the table now, but it is an option that the Government sees on the horizon.
Government sources consulted by EL PERIÓDICO assure that, sooner or later, the voice of the Generalitat must win presence in what debates the CHE. At the moment, when it comes to tackling the drought, there are two Catalonias: that of the internal basins and the one of the Ebro basins. And this, according to these sources, does not make sense.
black week
Maria Dolores Pascualpresident of the CHE, has clarified that she is committed to the coordination between administrationsbut he points out that Catalonia has very different hydrological realities: “You cannot compare the situation of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona with the regions of Lleidawhich have a guaranteed supply, as well as the ‘mini-transfer’ of water up to tarragona. Here, most of the water is used for irrigation, not for urban consumption.” In fact, in the Permanent Commission on Drought of the Ebro basin there is representation of the autonomous communities. But the Government wants more presence.
The Government reproaches the “lack of planning” of the CHE when issuing restrictions
It’s been months since the shortage stalks the regions irrigated by the Ebro. However, the Hard hit It hasn’t arrived until the last few hours. The closure of the Canal d’Urgell coincides with the declaration of exceptionality in the Segre basin by the CHE. A decision, this last one, that has heated up the spirits in the Conselleria d’Acció Climàtica.
succession of reviews
The ‘councilor’ Teresa Jorda He has taken advantage of his visit to the El Prat de Llobregat desalination plant to criticize the “lack of planning“by the CHE. Jordà acknowledges that the declaration of exceptionality will allow irrigators to access helpbut considers that if more progressive restrictions were applied, “as has been done in internal basins”, this would allow farmers a better organization. The ‘president’ has chested out of the drought plan of the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) and has opposed it to the decision-making of the CHE: “Your criteria is different.“.
In February, they count from the Department, Jorda already questioned the CHE asking Why didn’t he act in the face of the drought?. received no response, they affirm. In March, this demand was repeated and included a proposal to modernize the Canal d’Urgell. After a meeting between the ‘conselleria’ and CHE, Jordà confirmed once again what he interpreted as a “zero forecast“.
After this succession of disagreementsthis Wednesday Jordà’s tone was even more vehement: “They did not answer our questions, and from one day to the next, they close the Canal d’Urgell and present their special drought plan“. The ‘councilor’ has thought call the president of the CHE and transfer the negative opinion that the Government has about its management.
To all this, answer Paschal: “In the Urgell yes measures were taken. The irrigation campaign was delayed and there were apportionments in the endowments”. The president of the CHE has remarked that it was very difficult to foresee that the contributions of rain in the reservoirs would be almost non-existent. “For this reason, this decision has been taken drastic decision. To guarantee supplies “, he has settled. Even so, he does not rule out tweak the plan announced yes it rains in may.
desalinate more
Pere Aragoneswho this Thursday will meet with the irrigators of the Canal d’Urgell, has claimed the power of water treatment and desalination plants such as the Llobregat. “These infrastructures have produced 86 cubic hectometres in 16 monthsmore than fits in the Llosa del Cavall”, has highlighted Aragonese.
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The capacity to desalinate water in Catalonia will double in the next five years, with the expansion of the Tordera plant and the one that will be built at the mouth of the river Foix (in cubelles), after an inversion of €400 million.
In order to face the expense that the anti-drought infrastructures announced, the Government requested collaboration from the Ministry of Ecological Transition. For now, the response from the Government, as Jordà explained, has been to schedule a meeting between the ‘councillor’ and the minister Teresa Ribera. The meeting will be held next May 22nd and Jordà hopes that it will serve to reach agreements.