The leader of the socialist faction in the Cabildo of Tenerife, Pedro Martín, put forward yesterday the idea of implementing a “specific water crisis plan” for rural areas. This plan involves allocating 65 million for initiatives that could potentially increase irrigation water by up to 40,000 cubic meters in a reasonable timeframe. The proposal will be presented as a motion during the upcoming island plenary session on Friday.
Pedro Martín expressed that his party does not oppose the water crisis declaration put forth by the island Government (CC-PP). However, he highlighted that simply following the government’s water law may not be the optimal solution. He stated, “The government’s water law emphasises that in such circumstances, priority is given to public water supply over agricultural needs. Therefore, opting for a blanket solution might not be the most appropriate course of action.”
Hence, he suggested, “The Labour Party advocates for a targeted emergency response, specifically addressing the significant challenges faced in providing water to the agricultural sector.” He proposed that emergency actions should be fast-tracked to “expedite the processes.” He asserted, “All that is required is a justification for the emergency works declaration, and we believe the Cabildo has the necessary means,” referring to reports from Balten highlighting the drastic decrease in water accumulation, and Agriculture’s reports indicating an extreme situation.
Moreover, Pedro Martín mentioned that the Cabildo has various options to fund this proposed action plan, such as reallocating budgets, seeking credit operations, or utilising the remaining funds from the previous year, totalling 174 million.
When asked whether the Labour Party would support the motion presented by the island Government in the upcoming plenary session for declaring a water crisis on the Island, Martín responded, “We would need to analyse it,” and he added, “In any case, we are not against it; however, we would appreciate knowing if the Cabildo government would be willing to back our proposals as well.”
Regarding the measures put forth by the Labour Party, they advocate for the completion of the Buenos Aires treatment plant in Santa Cruz and the Isla Baja plant. In terms of desalination, they call for the establishment of regional desalination plants in La Laguna and the Güímar Valley, along with immediate solutions like portable desalination plants and reinstating the one installed in Güímar during the previous term.
The programme also includes initiatives for water pipelines, notably a significant one from the La Orotava valley to Isla Baja. Additionally, long-term plans are proposed to waterproof reservoirs to prevent leaks, and to reduce water supply leaks.
Pedro Martín stated that the water situation is “highly complex,” highlighting that the Island’s major underground reservoir is depleting by 2.5 to 3 linear metres annually, and the overall effluent flow has decreased by 30% between 1985 and 2016.
