The intervention in the quarry of Palmeira nº 2, in Monchique, which was identified by the Ministry of Environment as being in "critical situation", has “high” priority, according to the Plan of Intervention in the Quarries in Critical Situation, which was published last Tuesday, March 5th, in Diário da República.
Of the three quarries in the Algarve identified in this plan, which also include the Nave quarry, also in Monchique, operated by the DFG, and the P3 quarry in Santo Estêvão, in the municipality of Tavira, Palmeira is the only one with the status of high priority and high level of intervention.
In this case, the value of the work for regularization amounts to 92.900 euros.
The other two farms in the region have “reduced” intervention priority, the level of intervention is also low and, in total, have interventions estimated at 185.800 euros.
According to the plan, the three quarries identified in the Algarve need signaling, sealing and also studies and execution projects.
Many of these problems were identified, over the years, in the quarry of Palmeira nº2, in Monchique, as our newspaper gave an account in reporting.
This exploration is being subject to an evaluation process, which was instructed by the General Inspectorate of Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning (IGAMAOT) and is ongoing, but whose results are not yet known.
The Intervention Plan, now published in Diário da República, was determined by the minister of the Environment and Energy Transition, following the partial collapse of Municipal Road 255, in Borba, on 19 November, and «has the objective of investigating the real situation. existing quarries throughout the continental territory and allow the assessment of the need for intervention, with the protection of people, goods and the environment as a priority».
In Portugal, there are around 2500 quarries, of which 57% are licensed by the central public administration and 43% are licensed by the local public administration. Of the 1426 quarries in the sphere of competence of the central Public Administration, 191 (13%) are in a critical situation.
For these, «the level of intervention was defined, with 34 quarries with “high” priority, 76 with “moderate” priority and 81 with “low” priority».
The Government estimates that an investment “of 14,3 million euros, to be supported by the quarry operators or by the owners of the lands” where they are located, is necessary to correct the detected illegalities.
Once the quarries in critical situation have been identified, the General Directorate of Energy and Geology (DGEG) will notify “all quarry operators or owners of the land where they are located to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations”.
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