Balsa del Sapo project stalled again in Almeria

THE Cañada de Las Norias association has once again complained that Almeria’s Balsa del Sapo Project has still not been assigned.

The plan is to create a pipeline to help remove water from the Balsa del Sapo until the proper outlet tunnel is completed, to prevent flooding.

The tunnel, which has been agreed by the Junta and the Environmental Ministry, would cost around €50 million, and the Ministry also suggests a desalination plant so that the water could be used for irrigation and not wasted.

The Junta de Andalucia Environmental Department had promised that work would be underway by September, but the month has come and gone and the project has still not been assigned. The president of the association, Juan Bartolome Escobar, says that they worked with the owners of affected properties to obtain authorization as soon as possible, which took longer than expected, but was no excuse for the project not to have yet been assigned.

Environmental Councillor Jose Juan Diaz Trillo claimed that the budget for the project was €8.4 million.