There is a clash in Rome between the president of the Region Nicola Zingaretti and Acea over the water emergency. The particularly dry summer forced the Lazio Region to suspend withdrawals from Lake Bracciano, the capital's water reserve which has seen its level drop significantly compared to 2016.
But according to Acea, not so much as to trigger the alarm: "Resetting the derivation from Bracciano saves 1,5 millimeters but will bring to the inhabitants of Rome very heavy inconvenience – said the president of Acea Ato 2 Paolo Saccani, to SkyTg24 – Bracciano is low at the moment, but it is 90 centimeters less than last year on a 160-metre lake. We are implementing all the measures to reduce the derivation – he concluded – but interrupting it is in our opinion an irresponsible act ”.
“Unfortunately – argues Zingaretti instead – it is a tragedy. The level of Lake Bracciano dropped with the risk of environmental disaster up to this event. We have 7 days to find all the possibilities in order to limit the inconvenience for citizens as much as possible, but it is wrong to close our eyes. The problem exists and it is serious”.
The Ministry of Agricultural Policies is also ready to intervene on the issue with the declaration of a state of calamity. "We are ready to collaborate with the Regions in the census of the damages and the verification of the conditions for declaring the state of exceptional atmospheric adversity", said the Minister of Agricultural Policies, Maurizio Martina, regarding the current drought situation. Emergency measures have been activated: "There are 3 - he explains - the axes of intervention: activation of the national solidarity fund, increase in advances of European CAP funds, 700 million for the plan to strengthen irrigation infrastructures".
"First of all, environmental damage to the lake (of Bracciano, ed.) must be avoided and at the same time a major inconvenience to thousands of Roman citizens must be avoided". So in a note the Minister of the Environment Gianluca Galletti, which just yesterday released an interview with FIRSTonline. "The passage for Lazio to a condition of high water severity - he continues - allows to activate both the procedures in support of the agricultural sector and the possible concession of the state of emergency by the Civil Protection, upon regional request".
The mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi in the meantime, he assures that “everything possible will be done to ensure water for citizens, hospitals, firefighters, commercial activities. I hope that the Region and Acea - he continues - find a shared solution as soon as possible. What is necessary must be done to help and protect over one million Romans". But the M5S never misses an opportunity to rise up, in its own way: “The Region – declares the group leader of the M5S in Campidoglio Paolo Ferrara – has gone too far without coordinating with the Municipality. The Municipality should have been heard first since it is a measure with a very impact on citizens ”.
On the way, therefore, there is rationed water for one and a half million Romans. Acea announces the arrival of the measure, "mandatory" as the multi-utility underlines after the decision of the Lazio Region to suspend withdrawals from Lake Bracciano. Acea points the finger at the act, “unilateral and illegitimate, which – it warns – will have important and serious consequences for the citizens of Rome. The drastic reduction of the inflow of water to the capital's water network it will force us to implement a strict rotation in the supply which will affect about one and a half million Romans”.
