Portugal is set to embark on a significant environmental and infrastructural project with the construction of a new dam in Algarve, despite reservations from Brussels regarding new dam constructions. The project, focusing on the Alportel hydrographic basin, was confirmed by Maria da Graça Carvalho, the Minister of Environment and Energy, during a protocol signing with the Algarve's Sotavento irrigators' association for environmental impact studies.
Key Highlights:
- Agricultural leader Macário Correia has already commissioned the execution project, expecting its delivery in a few weeks with an estimated cost of €20 million and a completion timeline of 4-5 years.
- The dam is praised for its multiple uses, including agricultural benefits, human consumption, and managing the Gilão River's flow, addressing periodic flooding in Tavira.
- The long-promised Foupana dam will also undergo studies, though its realization remains uncertain.
- The government emphasizes the priority of the desalination plant project but warns against water loss in supply networks, urging local authorities to invest more in public water supply infrastructures.
Water Well Restrictions Lifted: In a significant policy shift, the government has lifted restrictions on water extraction via artesian wells, citing a notable recovery in underground water masses in several basins. However, restrictions remain in the Querença/Silves aquifer due to insufficient recovery.
Controversial Decisions: The APA has authorized new wells for the Quinta da Ombria golf course but maintains the ban on agricultural extractions in the same area, sparking debates on water resource management priorities.
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