Sicily drought. Image shows dried and cracked land

Sicily drought is national emergency – Salvini

By Region Environment News The Islands

The Sicily drought has escalated to a “national emergency,” Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini stated during a question-time session in the Lower House on Wednesday.

He emphasised the government is implementing “every action that is useful to overcome critical issues that have been evident for years.” Salvini announced the completion of the preliminary phase of a national plan for infrastructural interventions in the water sector, which includes around €950million in funding.

Salvini specified approximately 10% of the funding is allocated to Sicily, covering seven projects totalling €92million out of the 75 water-related initiatives funded across Italy. He also mentioned an extraordinary national commissioner would propose a plan for urgent interventions to address the emergency.

On Wednesday, MPs from the Green-Left Alliance (AVS) organised a flash-mob protest outside the premier’s office at Palazzo Chigi, criticising the government’s priorities. Angelo Bonelli of the Green Europe party remarked, “We are in front of Palazzo Chigi to remind Premier Giorgia Meloni that the climate crisis is not an ideological issue or a whim; it is a dramatic reality.”

He described the dire situation in Sicily, where drought is causing fields to become barren, forcing farmers to uproot vineyards and cull animals due to the lack of water.

The island’s only natural lake is also drying up.

Bonelli criticised the government’s decision to prioritise the construction of the Bridge over the Strait of Messina while neglecting the country’s pressing issues, particularly the climate crisis and drought.

“We ask Giorgia Meloni for a meeting to discuss our proposals to counter their silence and inertia,” he said.

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