The Minister of Climate Action, David Mascort, announced yesterday that the different irrigating communities of the Ter, between the Pastoral area and the lower section of the river, will have 17 cubic hectometres of water for this agricultural campaign, of which 12 come from the Pasteral swamp. A figure, however, that the sector considers totally insufficient to save its crops.
For example, the Baix Ter rice farmers will be assigned only 2.5 cubic hm, an amount with which they will be able to work “between 15% and 20% of the surface of the rice fields, in the best of cases,” as detailed. yesterday Albert Grassot, from the El Molí de Pals irrigation community, after leaving the meeting that Councilor Mascort held with representatives of the different communities. “It is a drastic reduction, although it is something,” he said. Last year, with an approximate allocation of about 6 cubic hm, they managed to save 60% of the harvest.
The president of the Colomers irrigation community, Jordi Aulet, also left the meeting with bad feelings. “They have assured us water for woody plants, but herbaceous plants like corn are not on the list, there are people who are on the verge of abandoning them,” he said.
One of the commitments that the irrigation communities did make from the department is that the initial figure of 17 cubic hm can grow if the reservoirs continue to fill, thanks to the latest rainfall and those that are expected to fall in the coming days.
If they reached, for example, 150 cubic hectometers – now they are at 128 – then all irrigators could have the same amount of water as a year ago. “When this episode of rain ends we will reassess and review the provisions based on the dammed water,” acknowledged Mascort.
For now, at this Friday’s Ter Llobregat desilting commission, the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) will approve desilting 12.67 hm3. A figure to which will be added 4.5 hm3más of water from wells, rivers and streams, as long as the emergency flow rate of 1,000 m3/second is respected.
