TRENT. Following requests from revision of the PNRRR to the European Commissionan additional allocation proposal was recognized for the investment line of the Pnrr m2c4 – i4.2 “Reduction of losses in water distribution networks, including digitalisation and monitoring of the networks” which in March 2023 had seen the approval of the first ranking of proposals. Thus begins the question presented today by Pat by the provincial councilors Calzà and Manica, of the Democratic Party.
This new possibility – they continue – had allowed 28 Trentino municipalities to submit a request for financing, approximately 150 million euros, to guarantee the redevelopment of the aqueduct networks, benefiting from 100% of the expense coverage if the related executive designs, validations and tenders had been announced by 30 April 2024. The administrators’ concerns were linked to the timing, which is why the collaboration of the Province was requested in order to be able to follow the complex process from the design to the awarding of the works in compliance with the established deadlines.
By April 30, 23 municipalities/managers managed to submit applications for a total amount of approximately 130 million euros. Last May 6, it was announced, with directorial decree no. 203 of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, that 18 projects (27 municipalities and public companies) were admitted to financing for a total of 106 million euros.
Good news that will make it possible to improve the networks and aqueduct systems in the Trentino area and to significantly improve the percentage of network losses, currently 35%. News which, however, must be read with the eyes of reality.
Meanwhile, 19 municipalities that had applied for a total of 73 million euros are not included in the ranking, including Pergine, Borgo Valsugana and Lavis. Furthermore, the Pnrr financing provides that if the works are not completed within the set deadlines (testing of the works by March 2026) everything will be lost, even what has already been carried out (such as design costs).
The greatest concern is about the calling for tenders which, especially in small businesses, require specialized technical personnel who are not available. Some city councilors who refer to the provincial majority are also realizing this and are wondering how the municipal administration will be able to manage such a complex project with a technical office already in difficulty and without the possibility of hiring new staff.
Furthermore, municipalities must anticipate the cost of designs and VAT and review the budgets by giving up some planned intervention or going into debt. Some consortia in the Umbrian mountain basins have agreed to advance next year’s proceeds for planning costs but an important figure for which resources must be found remains uncovered.
The question arises whether the Province will be able to intervene with concrete help regarding the management of tenders. Will the provincial agency for procurement and contracts (Apac) have enough staff to deal with, in addition to provincial procurement, the procedures eligible for Pnrr funding for the rehabilitation of aqueducts?
And who will take on the role of sole manager of the procedure (Rup), a provincial official or some technician from the municipality who perhaps does not exist? All these doubts must be answered urgently.
Given all this, the provincial council is asked to find out:
1. if Apac has been appointed to manage the tender procedures relating to projects admitted, as per directorial decree n.203 of 6 May, for financing on the investment line of the Pnrr m2c4 – i4.2 “Reduction of losses in water distribution networks, including digitalisation and monitoring of networks”;
2. whether a single person responsible for the procedure has been identified at provincial level or each municipality must find one among its own staff;
3. how it intends to contribute to the costs relating to the planning and VAT advance of the admitted projects to prevent the municipalities from giving up the financing granted;
4. how it intends to respond to the 19 municipalities not included in the ranking of those admitted to funding due to lack of requirements but which need to redevelop the aqueduct network.
