The PSOE denounces that the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Minister of Territorial Policy of the regional executive, Manuel Miranda, admitted this Tuesday in the plenary session of the regional Parliament that the Cabildo of Lanzarote has not submitted any hydraulic investment project to the regional Executive charged to a “saving” additional provision incorporated in the 2024 budget.
With just a month and a half to go before the end of the year, the Government of the Canary Islands "has not executed a single euro charged to additional provision number 70 of the regional budget, which contemplated 15 million euros to increase hydraulic resources or improve water quality."
Likewise, that amount could be increased with financing from “unforeseen income” or “decreases” from other expenditure items, “to finance the necessary investments to address water emergencies on the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.”
In response to a question from the socialist deputy Marcos Bergaz, the minister acknowledged that this budget forecast has not been met and that “only” he has received “a single proposal from the Cabildo of Fuerteventura for 13 million euros.”
However, the Cabildo of Lanzarote, chaired by Oswaldo Betancort (CC), has not submitted any project to the Government of the Canary Islands, despite the investment need of the Island, which since he took office has suffered continuous water cuts.
In his speech, the Lanzarote parliamentarian recalled that the parties that support the Government, CC and PP, “justified the scarce investments in water matters” by the introduction of the aforementioned additional provision in the regional budget.
Bergaz pointed out that he has asked up to three times during the current year about the hydraulic projects that had been presented and stressed that "both residents and businessmen from Lanzarote and La Graciosa are denouncing the damages of the supply cuts."
“I am concerned, Minister,” Bergaz told Miranda this Tuesday in Parliament. “I will have to tell the residents of Lanzarote and La Graciosa that the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Lanzarote have been unable to take advantage of that additional budget provision that was supposedly going to alleviate the investment deficiencies.”
“I have the feeling that budgetarily the Government of the Canary Islands to which you belong, loves you little, rebel Mr. Miranda,” the socialist deputy snapped to the Minister of Territorial Policy to finish.
