Mass Eviction of 45 Settlements along Granadilla de Abona’s Coastline

A significant operation was carried out on Thursday, March 21st, involving 25 officers, including the Local Police and the Civil Guard, to evict a total of 45 settlements located in the La Mareta and Charco del Clérigo areas.

This operation also included 35 workers from the municipal company SERMUGRAN, who were responsible for clearing the area of belongings and other waste. This task required the use of eight trucks due to the large amount of waste present along this coastal strip.

The Town Council of Granadilla de Abona, in an official statement, mentioned that the municipality, like other regions in southern Tenerife, had been facing issues with the illegal occupation of coastal areas. Hence, in collaboration with the Civil Guard and the Provincial Coastal Service, they proceeded to evict these settlements on Thursday, March 21st.

Carmen Dolores Rodríguez, the delegate for Special Security, highlighted that the operation was carried out smoothly and efficiently, thanks to the excellent coordination between the Local Police and the Civil Guard, ensuring the operation’s success throughout.

Moreover, it was mentioned that the eviction notice was served to nearly 100 individuals, mainly of European nationality, living in the coastal area on Wednesday, March 13th. This advanced notice led to the settlements being mostly unoccupied during the eviction, resulting in only one arrest. No minors were found at the site during the operation.

90 Families Left Homeless without Alternatives

On March 12th, over 200 residents of the Chasna building in Arona, southern Tenerife, were forcibly evicted from the abandoned building after several years. They were left without housing alternatives, with some resorting to sleeping on the beach as reported by the media.

Subsequently, the Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Mobility, Pablo Rodríguez, referred to the Prohogar program as a housing solution for the over 200 affected individuals.

In response to Patricia Hernández, a socialist deputy, Rodríguez stated that the regional government had made the Prohogar programme available to the Arona City Council and other municipalities facing similar evictions due to the prevailing housing crisis in the region.

Canarian Housing Decree Implementation

The Canary Islands’ Government recently approved a decree law to urgently address the housing crisis, as stated by the Housing Minister, Pablo Rodríguez (Canary Coalition).### Urgent Housing Crisis in the Archipelago

A set of proposals has been drafted to boost the housing inventory in the Islands, both in the public and private sectors, yet the effectiveness of the regulation heavily relies on the involvement of private enterprises.

### Over 23,000 Individuals Await Affordable Housing in the Autonomous Community

Presently, there are in excess of 23,000 hopefuls on the waiting list for subsidized housing within the Autonomous Community.

### Varied Responses towards the Decree Law

The decree law has triggered a diverse range of reactions. While the construction sector’s association and local business groups have lauded the regulation, opposition parties have condemned it, labeling the legislation as an “assault on urban planning.” Additionally, the majority of island councils feel that the text necessitates adjustments, and city councils, although crucial in the formulation of policies, have been sidelined in its preparation.