The Council of Ministers, at the request of the regional council, declared a national state of emergency due to the drought in Sicily. The measure will last 12 months and will see the immediate allocation of 20 million euros to tackle the water crisis, with the prospect of further short-term funding.
Immediate interventions and long-term plans
In detail, the funds will be used for a series of urgent and long-term interventions. Rapid actions include the purchase of new tankers and the retrofitting of existing vehicles to support the municipalities most affected by the crisis. Furthermore, approximately 130 interventions are planned for the regeneration and drilling of wells, as well as the improvement of around thirty springs.
Future projects and support structures
For the months to come, the regional government has put in place the renovation and restart of the watermakers in Porto Empedocle and Trapani, operations that will require prolonged tendering procedures, due to environmental and procurement regulations. At the same time, nine provincial technical tables were established to select and monitor priority interventions, involving various local bodies and water authorities.
