Crotone – In the last seven days Papanice has had its drinking water supply interrupted three times. For the many inhabitants of the town-neighborhood, the water emergency therefore arrived before the summer. In the first two cases of interruption, Congesi, through a press release issued by the Municipality, informed the citizens of the disservice. Last night (last day of interruption) the taps stopped without anyone knowing anything about it. Evidently it was thought that by now the population had metabolised the emergency and the supply could be interrupted without communication.
It’s not really like that. Citizens are less stupid than administrators think and the managers of the Consortium. In fact, it has not been overlooked that the current water emergency is being paid exclusively by citizens residing in the town-neighborhood who, let it be clear, are called upon to pay for services, including water, at the same cost as those who live in the city center and in other neighborhoods. It is serious that an emergency is relegated to just one area of the city.
In the press releases, released on the occasion of the first two interruptions, reference was made to an excessive increase in water consumption in Papanice. A consumption which, logically speaking, cannot be reconciled with the human presence at this moment. Well, let those who ignore it know that at the moment the population residing in Papanice is not high. The presence will certainly grow in the months of July and August (especially) when our dear emigrants who work in Northern Italy, Europe and other continents return home. If there is no water now that the neighborhood does not have a high presence, what will happen when our loved ones return home? It cannot, therefore, be the human presence that has produced the current emergency. There could be other causes such as leaks and theft of water that cannot fall on the shoulders of the elderly and sick who live in Papanice.
It is up to Congesi to identify the causes and find solutions. The solution adopted so far cannot be shared. The idea that the solution could be to interrupt the supply is too simple and is, let us tell you, only advantageous for Congesi, who solves his problems by turning a hose. The inconveniences and costs that citizens face are enormous. First of all there is a poor segment of the population who does not have money to install a storage tank. This group is mainly made up of elderly people who live in modest homes. Taking away water from these vulnerable people is a crime. It is a crime to cut off water even from families with small children. Those who, however, have a storage tank must move the water with lifting pumps (motor) which work by consuming large quantities of electricity.
Who cares about inconveniences and increased consumption? The problem is not posed by those who have decided to adopt the solution of shutting off the water. The trouble lies with those who suffer the inconveniences and this is why the Committee for the defense of the rights of citizens of Papanice has decided to take legal action against Congesi and has turned to the Vallone law firm of Crotone, which has given its willingness to represent citizens. The Committee, as a first action, decided to make a reduction in the sum of the next bill to recover the inconvenience and expenses for the operation of the lifting pumps.
