The candidates on the AD list for the Algarve chose water as a crucial theme of this campaign and have already met with the Association of Beneficiaries of the Sotavento Algarvio Irrigation Plan «to delve deeper into the issue», they announced this Monday, January 29th.
The head of the list Miguel Pinto Luz and number two Cristóvão Norte spoke with Macário Correia, from the association's management, and concluded that «despondency is rife in Algarve cultures and in recent years nothing has been done.
For Pinto Luz, «the problem of drought is of the greatest relevance not only for the Algarve, but for the country». Therefore, he argues that “it is important to discuss the situation, but above all the solutions”.
«There is no more time to waste, the Algarve and the people of the Algarve demand it», he states in a note, noting that «it is necessary to move forward with the construction of the Foupana dam, a project recovered by the Sotavento irrigation authorities and which will make available more than 60hm³ of water for agricultural uses in this area of the Algarve».
Then, he considers that «it is urgent to connect Pomarão to the Odeleite Dam and, at the same time, resolve with concrete measures the scourge of brutal losses in urban systems that exceed 30 percent in the region».
The AD also took advantage of the meeting to express its condemnation of “the brutal cuts in water supply imposed by the Government, which disproportionately affect Agriculture and jeopardize its future”.
In this regard, Cristóvão Norte emphasizes that «farmers want to work, they don't want subsidies» and that «the solutions that should have been implemented more than five years ago really need to be unlocked».
Number two on the list says that AD will “implement the water efficiency plan and prepare the region for the next 20 years”.
Miguel Pinto Luz has no doubts about this: «this is the crucial moment. It should have been done a long time ago, like in most regions, but now it will be done. There’s no need to invent the wheel, you need to set it rolling,” he concludes.
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