The project of one dam on the Tagliamento river divides the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regionprovoking protests from the environmental committees and the perplexities of mayors. This is an intervention hypothesized by the Northern League council Massimiliano Fedrigawhich would have the purpose of check the floods of the river, but which the opposition harshly contests, denouncing a ballet of allocations and studies.
According to scientific community the Tagliamento is a rather rare example of a river that has maintained its own natural morphological characteristics and is capable of conveying a large quantity of water. Also studied by foreign universities, it has remained “free flowing”, unlike other rivers which are affected by dams or weirs. In this case the regional project concerns the construction of a “crossroad” a Dignano. And it is against this work – considered a dam – that environmentalists have aligned themselves. The protest was conveyed to the regional council by opposition groups, starting from Five Stars movement which he had as an advisor Rosaria Capozzi the first signatory of one motion to start “a debate and a participatory process for the prevention and mitigation of hydrogeological risk along the Tagliamento”.
The Fedriga council, however, wants to carry on, arguing that the work is essential for the flood control. The history of the story was reviewed by councilor Capozzi: “This is an impressive work, with a huge concrete pour. The councilors Fabio Scoccimarro (delegation to the environment, ed) And Cristina Amirante (delegation to infrastructure, ed) have given the green light to Flood Risk Management Plan in December 2023 which included a laminating crossbar adjacent to the Dignano bridge, costing 39 million euros. On April 11th they approved a preliminary document for the design of one laminating cross what it would cost 200 million euros, useful for asking the State for funds for a work that not even they want to do anymore”. It was 31 million euros as the first installment of the intervention. “In mid-May they took action by saying they no longer wanted a crossroad adjacent to the bridge, but a bridge-cross with floodgates”.
The result was a frantic discussion in the regional council, at the end of which the proposal was rejected minority motion which called for a public debate, the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the new flood risk management plan and the withdrawal of the ordinance, which paves the way for the construction of expansion tanks outside the riverbedfor an estimated cost of 70 million euros.
There was also an unedifying incident with the environmental councilor Fabio Scoccimarro, of Fratelli d’Italia, who confronted the demonstrators who were holding up signs against the “Tagliamento dam”, telling them: “You are liars and in bad faith”. The response: “We are demonstrating against a work that is a disaster, involves high costs and possible environmental damage”, declared the committees Together for the Tagliamento And Free cutting. “We are discussing the hydrogeological riskbut we are against any type of barrier that could cause enormous risks for the entire area.”
The Brothers of Italy group issued a ferocious note, denouncing “attacks on a councilor outside the regional council”. The scene was filmed anyway, with the exchange of accusations and counter-allegations. “The work between Dignano and Spilimbergo – writes FdI – will be a laminating crossroad (as stated in the council resolution) and not a dam as self-styled environmentalists, who are nothing other than ideological opponents of any initiative”.
