News item | 06-07-2023 | 18:17
The government has presented 28 measures to improve claims handling and strengthening houses in response to the parliamentary inquiry into natural gas extraction in Groningen. Half of those measures have at least partially started. The start date of most of the other measures is known. For example, from September, for damage up to 60,000 euros, it will no longer be looked at where the damage comes from. For some measures, the starting date will follow after the summer.
State Secretary Vijlbrief: “The handling of claims and strengthening unsafe houses have absolute priority. Many measures can take effect immediately, but for some we need longer. For example, because an ICT system needs to be adapted. With this planning we give residents clarity where they stand, what they can expect and when.”
Damage handling measures
Examples of measures that have already been started are stopping litigation against residents with the help of the state attorney. The IMG, the organization that handles damage in Groningen, has also withdrawn the appeal in all pending cases against residents and will no longer appeal in the future. In addition, IMG no longer has several experts look at where damage comes from if this is not to the benefit of the resident. In this way conflicting expert opinions about one damage are avoided.
From September , the IMG will gradually start with a new working method for handling claims up to € 60,000 . It is no longer considered where the damage comes from, but it is assumed that this was caused by gas extraction. In those cases, only how much it costs to repair the damage is considered. To make this possible, the IMG is currently adapting the ICT, among other things.
Measures strengthen houses
To improve the strengthening of houses, resident counselors from NCG, the organization that strengthens houses, have had a mandate of € 50,000 since May this year to prevent bottlenecks and harrowing situations. For example, to ensure that children feel at home in their own room, by wallpapering their room with children’s wallpaper in the temporary transitional home.
NCG offers residents of houses that need drastic reinforcement measures and whose reinforcement would not start in the short term insulation measures up to the level of natural gas-free ready. For houses whose reinforcements will start shortly, NCG will discuss a suitable solution with the residents. This is to prevent amplification delay.
All 50 measures
After the summer recess, a schedule will follow with an update on the elaboration and implementation of all 50 measures.