Residents of North Drenthe and Groningen who have reported earthquake damage up to 60,000 euros can choose this year whether they want to have it handled according to a new, simpler procedure. They do not have to demonstrate that, for example, cracks in walls were actually caused by gas extraction, reports outgoing State Secretary Hans Vijlbrief (Mining).
The new working method had already been announced earlier this year in the government’s response to the results of the parliamentary inquiry into gas extraction, but still had to be further developed. The handling of damage resulting from sixty years of gas extraction should become “milder, more humane and easier”.
Vijlbrief does not dare to promise that victims will never have to deal with “hassle” again. “I always keep a close watch on these things, because I don’t want to deceive those people. But the system is well thought out.”
Vijlbrief hopes this will remove “an important part of the sources of dissatisfaction” about the claims settlement. “In addition, we improve the quality of the housing stock, the living comfort of streets and neighborhoods, and the quality of life in Groningen and North Drenthe.”
Anyone who makes use of the scheme can have damage up to 60,000 euros repaired by their own contractor. The bill then goes directly to the Mining Damage Institute Groningen (IMG). People can also use a contractor hired by IMG itself.