The Council of Ministers agreed to extend the state of drought declared in the Júcar and Segura river basins a further year, which will allow "exceptional measures" to be adopted to alleviate the scarcity of water in these regions. Moreover, it approved two items of aid for the recruitment of research personnel for a sum of 105 million euros.
The extension of the state of drought for the river basins of the Júcar and Segura rivers until September 2017, has taken effect due to "the forecast for the current situation to continue" as a result of the lack of rainfall, pointed out the acting Vice-President of the Government, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría. This could lead to "serious problems in the supply of water, both for households and for farming and livestock operations".
According to the Government Spokesperson, the Royal Decree approved on Friday by the government will allow "exceptional measures to be implemented" such as, for example, mobilising water from desalination plants and committing to other investments.
Works on Alicante I and II desalination plants
Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría pointed out that, as a result of this commitment, emergency works will be initiated to connect the Alicante I and II desalination plants with Crevillente and its reservoir, for a total sum of almost 8 million euros.
This will increase the production capacity of these desalination plants to a total of between 12 and 14 cubic hectometres more per annum, which will ensure the provision of water to some 25,000 inhabitants of the municipalities in Alicante of Aspe, Crevillente, Hondón de los Frailes and Hondón de las Nieves.
The declaration of the state of drought in the river basins of the Júcar and Segura rivers was approved by the government in May 2015. This was subsequently extended until 30 September of this year. During this time, various actions have been implemented in the Júcar and Segura river basins at a cost of some 50 million euros.
Source: www.lamoncloa.gob.es
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