The spokesperson for the Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Ariagona González, has denounced the intention of the president of the institution, Oswaldo Betancort, to pay Canal Gestión 58.4 million euros as payment for works that should be carried out by the concessionaire of the integral water cycle and that, in addition, will only benefit the company itself.
The councilor has explained that the plan of urgent measures, announced by Betancort, includes a series of works on the distribution networks that are justified by the high volume of breakdowns experienced by some of these networks, but has recalled that "the repair of these breakdowns corresponds to Canal Gestión, as established in the conditions of the award".
"Oswaldo and Canal Gestión have agreed that the Water Consortium will change the pipes, so that the company saves on repairs, without this meaning any improvement for subscribers or for the administration," González explained.
"All benefits for Canal Gestión"
González has pointed out that, in addition to saving repair costs, Canal will benefit from the reduction of losses in the network, as it will mean a lower cost of production and distribution, without this improvement having the slightest impact on the bills of subscribers.
"With the replacement of the pipes, Canal will benefit from the reduction of losses, but families and companies will continue to pay the same at the end of the month," she denounced.
The councilor has expressed her astonishment and indignation because «As if that were not enough, Oswaldo has agreed to award the works to Canal, without them being put out to public tender, renouncing to obtain a more advantageous price, and increasing them by 10% of management expenses, which would also go to the company's coffers».
The same modus operandi as with the desalination racks
Ariagona González has pointed out that this "inexplicable preferential treatment to Canal Gestión includes", as the Socialist Group has already denounced, "the acquisition of two new racks to replace those damaged in the Lanzarote III plant, for 9.5 million euros that will be added to the 58.4 million for the replacement of pipes".
"The responsibility for maintaining the facilities in perfect working order lies with Canal Gestión, both the pipes and the plants. In addition, it would be necessary to know if the racks have had adequate maintenance and, in any case, it is up to Canal to repair them and not for the Consortium to replace them," the councilor concluded.
