Not just water emergency and declaration of the State of crisis. Sicily is fighting a real war against waste and inefficiencies in the system of dams and aqueducts on the island. Dozens of interventions have been implemented and almost 340 million euros in total funding has been committed in recent years.
Modern dams and aqueducts
From the interventions in Valle della Pozzillo dam in the Ennese area for the restructuring and elimination of losses in the water distribution network of theDittaino aqueduct Ogliastro (two different interventions for over 17 million); from the adaptation of the aqueduct of Contrada Sigona in the Lentini area (almost 20 million) for the modernization and elimination of leaks from the Jato aqueduct in the Palermo area (over 17 million euros); from the reconstruction of the aqueduct of the Delia river up to the Trinità dam (two interventions for almost 20 million) to the modernization of the networks Rubino district in the Trapani area. There are dozens of interventions on water networks intended for agriculture and on pipelines intended for drinking purposes, arranged and financed by the Schifani government since it took office.
The 37 works financed by the Schifani government
Overall, this amounts to 174 million euros divided into 21 projects of around 1 million each financed with the Rural Development Plan (RPS) 2014-2022; another 16 projects, of greater value for more complex works, financed with the Pnrr or with Fsc funds (National development and cohesion funds provided for by law 178/2020) for a total of 153 million of approximately euros. Interventions that are added to the four major works between the Musumeci government and the Schifani government for a total value of 165 million.
The four great works between two governments
The major works financed are the completion of Pietrarossa Dam between Aidone and Mineo for a total value of 82 million; the construction of the new water purification plant for the spring Garrison in Cefalù from the value of 25 million; the modernization and strengthening of theJato aqueduct in the Partinico area for others 25 million; the extraordinary maintenance of the bottom drain of the Pozzillo Dam to Regalbuto for more 33 million.
All the works in detail are contained in a summary sheet.
Works that regardless of the state of emergency
These are works financed regardless of the state of emergency that the Council of Ministers declared on Monday. From that decision comes a further twenty million which will arrive in Sicily from the national civil protection, in addition to those already approved, thanks to a specific request made by the President of the Region during his participation in the Council of Ministers and accepted there by Minister Musumeci
Schifani, work done away from the spotlight
“Since my inauguration we have worked, away from the spotlight and without electoral constraints, to finance around forty works – confirms the President of the Region Renato Schifani – for a value of around 340 million. These are extraordinary maintenance interventions throughout Sicily in both the irrigation and drinking sectors. Many of these interventions have already started.”
“In addition to these – announces the governor – we have already planned other works, for over 200 million euros, which we are inserting into the new FSC being defined with the national government. Just as we hope to be able to shortly obtain the green light for the plan of interventions for the safety of the water sector already presented to the Ministry of Infrastructure: 27 works for 830 million euros which the national commissioner for water has already placed among the priority ones. A great program worth over one billion and 300 million euros, perhaps never seen before in Sicily.”
