For the reconstruction of Emilia-Romagna “2.8 billion have been allocated in three years”, says Figliuolo

Today the extraordinary commissioner for reconstruction, General Francesco Figliuolo, spoke in an informal hearing in the Environment Committee of the Chamber regarding theflood that occurred in Emilia-Romagna in May: “I feel all the responsibility for this task, above all for the value that I hope it will have for the population of the affected regions who have suffered so much”. And he adds: “I highlight this aspect because as soon as I received the mandate from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and even before the formal appointment, I immediately went to the places where the disaster occurred, ascertaining the extent of the damage caused by the atmospheric events. A cumulative amount of rainfall equal to 4 billion cubic meters of water was poured into the area, clearly an exceptional quantity if we consider that the region consumes about 1.4 billion cubic meters of water for civil, industrial and and I water”. Then he continues: “We are talking about unprecedented events in the historic sites of Emilia Romagna which led to the simultaneous flooding of 23 streams which, breaking their banks, flooded fields and cities mainly in Romagna”.

Figliulo added that “according to the data acquired from a report drawn up by Ispra on the well-known flood events and as represented by the president of the Emilia-Romagna region during the hearing, damage estimates count tens of thousands of buildings invaded by water and mud, thousands of productive farms affected, 772 roads totally or partially blocked, 1,105 landslides in 80 and more municipalities. In the preliminary talks initiated by the structure with the Emilia Romagna region, I noted the great commitment and effort to define an integrated plan for the exceptional management of urban waste, of which over 150,000 tonnes are expected to be disposed of by mid-September next year”.

Speaking of reconstruction funds, General Figliuolo says that “1.28 billion euros will be allocated for 2023, 750 million euros for 2024 and 841 million euros for 2025”. He specifies: “First of all, we will operate , trying to make the best possible use of what was made available in 2023, proceeding according to the law. ad hoc measures consistent, in terms of time, with the real spending capacity”. He therefore concludes: “The work will have to be carried out in synergy with the territory and this is why, shortly, I will identify the sub-commissioners in the presidents of the regionwith whom we will work by conducting the necessary insights”.