The councilor of the Cabildo and president of the Water Consortium, Andrés Stinga, has demanded that Canal Gestión Lanzarote "comply with the contract" for the water supply on the island and end the supply problems, both domestic and, especially, in the agricultural sector of the island.
Regarding the measures adopted by the Consortium, Andrés Stinga states that they have imposed more than ten sanctions on Canal Gestión, although the company has been appealing them. "However, the sentences are arriving," the councilor points out.
In addition, he assures that the institution "will guarantee water on the island." "The Cabildo has its feet on the ground and will do whatever is necessary," says Stinga, who asks for "patience and trust" from the farmers of Lanzarote in the face of this situation, and insists that the Corporation "is working and analyzing" the options.
"They arrived creating expectations, assuring that they were going to solve the problems of the people of Lanzarote, and we believed it," he pointed out, noting that the arrival of Canal Gestión has meant the opposite. In addition, he has questioned that there is "a serious lack of communication" from the company with the Cabildo and the Consortium.
"I like relations with companies to be in writing," says the councilor, who criticizes that Canal Gestión "has let the island's treatment plants die." "I have never clearly seen the business, because what they are trying to do is bill, and they are playing with a fairly important sector such as the primary sector," he questions.
In addition, he states that the company is giving "stumbles" in decisions regarding water on agricultural farms. "One day they open the tap, another day they close it, one day they say they have the plant full of mud... It is a series of things that the president and I are working on," he says.
Stinga has attributed part of the problem to Canal's attitude towards its workers, with files and dismissals. "The Cabildo has had to hire people because the people who understood (the operation) of the water keys have been fired, and finally the company has brought in interns," says the councilor, who adds that he held a meeting with the workers of Canal Gestión and that they conveyed a feeling of "fear" to him.
In this regard, he pointed out that in the midst of the pandemic "a chip was placed on the vehicles" to track them and, subsequently, "carry out expulsion files."
"I find it hard to understand that of 16 workers who have to open the keys, 14 are being disciplined. I don't know what the labor policy of that company is," he points out.
An "cumbersome" and "interpretable" specification
The main dispute between Canal Gestión and the Water Consortium lies in which of the two entities is responsible for carrying out certain pending works. In this regard, Stinga points out that as the specification is written, it is "cumbersome" and "interpretable."
"Despite everything, the Cabildo is going to take charge of works," says the councilor, who has announced that "in the coming days" the execution of the project to improve the supply in San Bartolomé and Tinajo will be put out to tender, and that the water tanks "that have been closed for 20 years" will be repaired. In addition, he has pointed out that the northern line is "practically executed."
"Now it's time to work, and discussion is possible. Water is an essential service and the Cabildo will discuss whether it is a problem of one or the other, what it is about is facing reality," adds the councilor, leaving the door open to possible legal actions against Canal Gestión if it is proven that these actions have to be carried out by the company.
Regarding the money that Canal claims to have already invested, as required by the contract, Stinga recalls that there were twelve lots and emphasizes that they have not yet been validated. "To audit an invoice that Canal Gestión gives us, it needs the endorsement of a series of technicians who verify that these works are real and that they are done," he explains.
In addition, he has also announced that the Consortium is looking for funding for the Playa Blanca treatment plant. "Through a European line, we believe that by 2027 that treatment plant has to be finished," he said.
Stinga demands "transparency" from Canal Gestión
The president of the Water Consortium has also criticized the "lack of communication" of the company with users, and assures that they have demanded that Canal "make public when there are failures in the system."
"They were already forced to do so at the time, and there was a period in which the manager was on leave, but now he has returned and he will be forced to do so again. Not because we want to, but because it clearly states it in the specification," emphasizes Andrés Stinga.
Regarding the losses in the network, which according to the data in Canal have increased to 60% of the water that is produced, Stinga questions these figures. "I am not a technician, but I don't believe that, because if it were so, Lanzarote would be a forest," he questions.