They demonstrate against Minister Teresa Ribera for her “death sentence for the agri-food sector” of the Levantine coast
A large representation of irrigators from the Levante area and numerous politicians conveyed to Madrid this Wednesday their rejection of the government’s proposal for the Tajo-Segura transfer. The concentration in front of the doors of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, called by the central union of irrigators (Scrats), aims to protest Vice President Teresa Ribera, accused of having carried out the “death sentence for the agri-food sector” of Levante signed, which depends on the Tajo-Segura transfer.
Under the motto ‘In the Levante, without transfer, desert and unemployment’, they stand by the agreement to increase the ecological flow of the Tagus by 2027, which will mean a decrease in the contributions of the Tajo-Segura aqueduct to the currents of the provinces of Alicante, Murcia and Almería of about 105 cubic hectometres.
Irrigators are protesting because they estimate that this reduction in irrigation water transfer will lead to the loss of 15,000 jobs and a reduction in asset value of 5,692 million euros and defend that “there is no alternative to reducing the volume of available water”.
For the Círculo por el Agua and Scrats, this decision lacks technical justification and stems from the proposal to increase the minimum flows in the Tagus ash, which means a reduction in the flows that can be transferred.
Specifically, they explain that the predicted drop in contributions to the provinces of Alicante, Murcia and Almería is 105 cubic hectometers, which is 78 hectometers less for irrigation than the current average and 27 cubic hectometers less for supplying the population.
The covenants describe as “paradoxical” that the Levant “must keep fighting” to have the necessary resources to continue generating wealth, employment and progress. Therefore, they believe this is “clear evidence that something is being done wrong” in Spanish hydrological planning.
On the other hand, they warn that this reduction in water supply from transfer will translate into an increase in the price of drinking water for consumers, as it will increase reliance on desalinated water, whose costs and environmental impact are greater.
However, they ensure that the measures to improve the purification and modernization of irrigation in the Tagus basin are proof that the cause of the river’s failure to achieve good ecological status is not lack of flow. ideological intent of the Government of Spain.”
For example, they accuse the executive of putting the highest productivity agricultural sector in Spain “between the ropes” and “destabilizing the future of the entire Levante society”, disregarding the criteria of solidarity, sustainability and structure. of the territory.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
