Meanwhile, the Executive and the Cabildo are awaiting a response for state funding for planned works in the areas where these difficulties are evident
The Ministry of Territorial Policy has stated on Thursday that they are «working» with the Cabildo of Lanzarote to see how they can act «immediately» in the risky situation that some areas of the island face during periods of heavy rain, as what happened this past April, as stated by the responsible Manuel Miranda in a parliamentary commission held this Thursday in the chamber.
«This is a situation that is included in the hydrological plan, as well as in the flood risk management plan of the Cabildo, the Insular Water Council of Lanzarote, and is already planned in the necessary works that we sent to the Ministry a few months ago, to seek funding,» he said.
In response to a question about updating the flood zone maps in the Canary Islands, focusing on the situation in Lanzarote after the April rains, from the socialist parliamentarian Marcos Bergarz, Miranda specified that the works sent to the State as of general interest are: ‘Intersectors of Rainwater for Protection against flooding and water channeling in Arrecife’, with 10 million; ‘Channeling and hydrological correction of the Hurón ravine in Costa Teguise’, with 2,846,000 euros.
On the other hand, Bergaz has recalled that what was experienced during the heavy rains in Lanzarote this April were «very dramatic and high-risk situations», so he has pointed out how «fortunately, there were no fatalities». He has requested information from the Executive about the measures they propose.
Miranda has explained that, in terms of flood risk management plans in the islands, the planning is «established». «At this moment, we are in the preliminary phase, the first phase, which is the preliminary evaluation of flood risks, and all the documents have already been approved by the insular councils, that is, that preliminary document,» said the councilor.
Thus, he warned how there is still «a long way» of six months of public exposure, among other procedures, but they are «working» to prevent what has already happened, that is, approving the hydrological plans and flood risk management plans «quite late».
Regarding the vulnerability of some areas of Lanzarote to periods of heavy rain, he expressed that the situation «is not new». In fact, he exemplified what happens in Argana, in Arrecife, that «every time there is more than normal rain», there are sanitation problems. «It is included in the hydrological plan and in the flood risk management plan of the Cabildo, and it is planned in the works we sent to the Ministry.»
Meanwhile, from the Executive, he said, they are working with the Cabildo of Lanzarote to see how they can act on that issue «immediately».
Bergaz (PSOE), on his part, has questioned the Executive on how they managed the situation after the rainstorm had passed. On the other hand, councilor Manuel Miranda has described the situation as «unexpected», arguing that since the Aemet informs about «an observed phenomenon» in the area, that is, the heavy rains, alerts were activated, while the pre-alert was already active.
