The Minister of Energy and Environment, visiting Santarém to learn about the situation caused by the bad weather, considered this Tuesday, February 10th, that the issue regarding flooding is under control. “We had unprecedented situations that could have led to the biggest floods ever, fortunately we were able to control it through the releases of the dams”said Maria da Graça Carvalho.
According to the official, now the main concern is related to the landslide, which is interrupting circulation on several roads across the country. “We will have to look at our funding and redirect it to the urgent priorities of the moment,” he said.
Maria da Graça Carvalho said that the Government will analyze the available funds (Cohesion Fund, Environmental Fund and Recovery and Resilience Plan) to redirect priorities and finance the works urgent matters, adding that the Government is assessing needs with the support of local authorities.
The decision on the redirection of funds will be taken “by the prime minister, together with the ministers of Economy and Cohesion”, said the minister.
Then, in Valada, in the municipality of Cartaxo, next to the Tagus River, and which has been isolated for several days, the minister announced that 23 dikes will be intervened. The government official was confronted with the problems that occurred with the dike in that location, which required urgent intervention in recent days. “But now there is a need for some work to provide a structure to make it resistant to new impacts”, he said, highlighting that “this long period of weather was unprecedented and therefore it is very difficult for the infrastructure to resist”.
The minister recalled that an inspection of large dams is underway – with good results – and that it is now necessary to check the smaller ones.
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