“A slow but inexorable wearing down of the water resources of this country is underway”: this was underlined by the Minister of Agricultural and Forestry Policies, Stefano Patuanelli, in an urgent report to the Chamber on the drought. “The reduction compared to the previous thirty years is 19% – the minister recalled – but the Ispra projections foresee a national reduction in the availability of water resources from 10 to 40% in the near future”. In fact, Patanelli pointed out, referring to the past crises of 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2017, the emergency recurs every 5 years “with ever greater evidence and serious consequences”.
The deterioration of water resources, the minister continued, “puts the fruit and vegetable sector at risk, above all. And the Po crisis alone weighs on over a third of the national agricultural production ».
To run for cover, the government “is working to include in the decree in support of workers and companies that we intend to adopt by the end of the month some urgent measures to deal with the water emergency”: in particular, it is studying the possibility of extending soon the state of emergency to four other regions: Lazio, Umbria, Liguria and Tuscany. Which will thus be added to Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto.
The operations will be coordinated directly by Palazzo Chigi, without the need to appoint an ad hoc commissioner. “I think perhaps more permanent coordination will be needed at the Presidency of the Council to face the emergency and for future planning,” he explained.
“We are accelerating all kinds of initiatives aimed at modernizing the irrigation system and making resources effectively available”, added the minister, underlining that “the expensive energy, the war in Ukraine and the drought emergency are causing a series of damage to the agricultural system. which obliges the government to accompany producers in such a complicated phase ».