Por Redaccion 
Support all social and judicial measures in defense of the transfer
The Alicante Provincial Council warns that the new rules of operation of the Tajo-Segura transfer will be its «final blow», and although it advocates for «exhausting the path of dialogue», it will support «all social and judicial measures» in favor of the irrigators, hand in hand with the Generalitat where the PP also governs.
This was conveyed by the first vice president and deputy of the Water Cycle, Ana Serna, at the technical meeting of the Provincial Water Commission to assess the proposal of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition (Miteco) to modify the rules of operation of the Tajo-Segura transfer from 2027, as reported by the provincial institution.
It has been pointed out in the commission that this change, together with the full implementation of the ecological flow, will «significantly» reduce the water available for irrigation, causing «a loss of assets of 5,692 million euros and the destruction of more than 15,000 jobs in the three receiving provinces» (Alicante, Murcia, and Almería).
In the specific case of the province of Alicante, according to the commission, the decrease in transferable volumes to irrigation operations would reduce production by almost 61 million euros and lead to the loss of around 1,700 jobs.
For the vice president of the Provincial Council, the new operating rules are «a decision that does not respond to any technical criteria and only seeks to reward loyalties and punish territories like that of the province of Alicante.»
In this regard, she has once again questioned the government’s stance: «We do not understand it, although it does not surprise us because it is the narrative that has been building for a long time only with the aim of rewarding those who, although sometimes dissenting voices, end up raising their hand to support President Sánchez.»
«We are facing an emergency situation that requires a response,» she warned, although «given what has happened in recent years», she believes they will have to «take action.»
Therefore, although she has advocated for «exhausting the path of dialogue», she has guaranteed that «the Alicante Provincial Council will support all social and judicial measures taken in defense of what belongs to us.» In her opinion, «joining forces with the Generalitat» in defense of the transfer «will be an important boost to address the disastrous situation ahead of us.»
ALTERNATIVES
During the technical water commission, possible alternatives to combat the effects of the increase in ecological flow and the change in operating rules were discussed, such as the route of the connection between the desalination plant in Torrevieja and Ojós (Murcia), «a connection that has raised concerns due to its potential impact on protected areas like the Sierra de Escalona.»
Regarding this project, the commission’s director, the professor Joaquín Melgarejo, has argued that it requires «a rigorous project» and should be completed by 2027, so he believes that there should be budget allocations that currently do not exist for its study and implementation. «The year 2027 is almost here and we are without the General State Budgets to know how and when these works will be paid for,» he warned.
According to the commission, the ‘Zero Discharge’ project could be a substitute for part of the water from the transfer that will be lost, especially for the area of Riegos de Levante Margen Izquierda, with a potential of reaching 16 hm3. However, the expert has criticized the lack of specificity from Miteco regarding this proposal.
The technical commission has also analyzed the water supply guarantees in Marina Baixa, as «it has rained in much of Spain but not in the Segura basin, and there is a pre-emergency situation in this region»: «We need to analyze the situation and prepare for the summer.»