The persistent drought is the most serious problem that Catalonia faces in the short and medium term. No matter how much newspapers like this one explain the restrictions that are about to arrive, citizens will not be aware of the seriousness of the situation until they open the tap and see the water coming out with little pressure or, at all, not coming out at all. But you know that we are very close to this difficult experience. Probably within a couple of weeks.
When citizens experience limitations in the consumption of a basic element for life such as water, discomfort and criticism will emerge due to lack of foresight. The Government knows that it is risking the drought, especially less than a year before the Catalan elections. That is why there is anxiety because the activated investments will not arrive on time and some feasible solutions that experts propose are rejected due to electoral fear.
I am referring to the plan of the professional colleges of engineering and economics to take advantage of the entire flow agreed years ago in the concession of the mini-transfer from the Ebro to Tarragona. Now only half of that water is used and the proposal indicates that all of it be used with a prior connection of the Tarragona pipeline with that of Barcelona. And also, with the commitment that this wasted water would only be used in emergency cases like the current one. That is to say, it is not asked to extract even one more drop from the Ebro than expected.
The response of the Ebro regions was predictable. They have flatly refused and the Government also rules it out to avoid a fire of protests on the eve of the elections. But as restrictions tighten (hopefully not), it will be more difficult to defend this refusal of emergency aid.
It will be incomprehensible that bread and salt are denied to Barcelona and eyes will be directed not only to the Government but to the citizens of the Ebro and Aragon who will be accused of lacking solidarity. Nobody understands that with the Mequinensa reservoir overflowing with 80% occupancy, it is preferable to open floodgates before that water is used for people in the Barcelona area to drink.
The opposition of the residents of the Ebro has a background. They complain of being forgotten and they have no shortage of reasons. For example, try arriving by train and you will understand. But this territorial grievance is not unique. Catalonia has historically been articulated in a centralist way around Barcelona. A mere observation of the road or railway map shows the radiality from the capital. And this is also extensive in many other services (health, education, administration, etc.).
This way of configuring the country would explain a good part of the suspicion of the peripheral population. It is a deep-rooted feeling, but in cases of emergency it should be overcome by solidarity. And if that is not enough, let’s make a virtue of necessity (a very fashionable expression) and offer the Ebro regions compensation for “their generosity.” Now they can be protagonists.
