Are there floodplains of the rivers in Emilia-Romagna? Numbers and post-flood controversies
Between 2015 and 2022, the Emilia-Romagna Region received and allocated over 190 million euros for the construction of 23 expansion tanks – essential works in the event of a flood – but only 12 of these are fully operational. What happened ? The article of the National newspaper
THE NUMBERS OF THE BIS FLOOD AND THE CASE OF THE EXPANSION TANK
Three hundred millimeters of rain in 48 hours in the most affected areas. Twenty-two rivers in flood at the same time, of which 21 flooded in a vast territory that goes from Modena to Rimini. Landslides recorded in 48 municipal areas. The numbers of the bis flood – the second between Emilia and Romagna in less than fifteen days – are as frightening as the water that has been falling incessantly since Monday night.
QUESTIONS ABOUT EMILIA-ROMAGNA
And they raise the questions of all time: is maintenance on the river banks done on a regular basis? Are the 2-3 cuts per year envisaged by the Region in trafficking subject to full and on call in minor courses enough? But above all, are these exceptional events against which little could have been done or could more, better or faster be invested? To date, of course there are only other numbers.
THE NECESSARY INTERVENTIONS FOR HYDROGEOLOGICAL SAFETY IN EMILIA-ROMAGNA
For the 2020-25 legislature, the Region has planned hydrogeological safety interventions amounting to 800,777,345.95 euros, of which only 38 million come from the Ministry of the Environment, while 107 come from Viale Aldo Moro, 160 from Europe and about 500 from the Been through several funds.
GLU PROVISIONS AND THE REALITY
And yet, despite the monstrous amount committed to guaranteeing the safety of the territory (4,557 total construction sites in Emilia-Romagna), the disbursement for bad weather damage in the Region continues to travel on comparable figures: between 2019 and 2023 the Civil Protection approved 243 million euros in reimbursements for disaster damage and made another 252 million available to the State, through the same department. In the list of events covered, a large number concern floods, hailstorms and storms, but there is no shortage of drought and (again) the 2012 earthquake.
THE CASE OF EXPANSION BOXES
The accounts, albeit of the servant, are merciless: half of the sums invested in safety works is as if they were canceled with a clean slate to the sound of damages. And even of those works in the yard, it is not always possible to arrive at a rapid realization. For different reasons. An example? The so-called river expansion tanks, essential works in the event of floods because they allow the water to be temporarily 'parked' outside the main course at a time of particular flow.
Between 2015 and 2022, the Emilia-Romagna Region received and allocated over 190 million euros for the construction of 23 'funds'. But only 12 of these are fully operational; two others work in part, including that of the Senio where an expropriation is underway. Nine are still awaiting the end of the works (such as the one in the Baganza, a real dam worth 82 million euros, now 30% complete), two of which are still to be financed. The data on their use demonstrates that they are essential: in the flood of 2-3 May 2023, those on the Samoggia, in the Navile canal, in the Mulini canal and in the Senio filled up with water. And in the latter case, although it is only partially functional..
(Excerpt from an article published in the National Quotidiano )
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/energia/casse-despansione-dei-fiumi-in-emilia-romagna-post-alluvioni/ on Thu, 18 May 2023 11:39:09 +0000.