PIEDMONT – “Given that rationing is the responsibility of the Regions and local bodies, I feel like saying that for this summer the danger could be averted“. This was stated by the Minister of Civil Protection and the Sea, Nello Musumeci, in an interview with ‘Messenger‘on’drought emergency.
“Obviously it also depends on the rainfall of the next few weeks. We monitor Piedmont in particular and Lombardy where even the scarce snows weigh and agriculture suffers”. The minister notes that “water scarcity has been a reality for yearsnot just an emergency. What has happened in recent years? This government, with the new control room and in view of the possible appointment of a commissioner, is working on a medium-long term plan“.
As for resources, he explains that “overall, between national and European funds, the ministries that deal with the water sector already have almost 8 billion euros at their disposal. They had to be spent sooner, bureaucracy and poor coordination delayed too long“. Furthermore, he adds, “investing in desalination plants and purifiers is one of our goals. Let’s look at the Israeli model for reducing waste, for example do not use potable water to irrigate the fields“. And to the environmental protests for the regasification terminal in Piombino, he replies: “I ask the fundamentalists: are there alternatives? You can’t always say no. In an emergency it is a duty to use our natural resources. This is also why as governor I did not oppose the regasification terminal in Porto Empedocle“.
