Drought is more than ever on the government's agenda.
The Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu went to the Pyrénées-Orientales on Thursday to address the early drought that the department is currently facing.
On site, the Minister for Ecological Transition announced the creation of a ministerial unit for municipalities facing drinking water problems, from June.
“
This will make it possible to follow in real time which municipalities have drinking water problems
”
,
he said during a press conference this Thursday noon.
This device will make it possible to have "
the real-time figure
" of municipalities having drinking water difficulties and to "
accompany these territories
" in trouble.
Nationwide, the Minister for the Ecological Transition indicated that 75% of the country's groundwater had levels below normal, compared to 58% at the same time in 2022. "Because of the drought in
the last summer, there was a delay for this year and we are almost certain to start next year even more late
,
”
he said.
Local difficulties
Regarding the Pyrénées-Orientales themselves, Christophe Béchu recalled that the decision to place the department in a state of drought crisis, the highest level of alert, was up to the prefecture.
A meeting will be held this Thursday at 5 p.m. on this subject.
"
The situation is contrasting throughout the department, but the overall level of groundwater is worrying
"
,
he launched upstream of the Hydrological Anticipation and Monitoring Committee (CASH) which he chairs Thursday, April 27. .
"
The Pyrénées-Orientales prefigure what we risk experiencing in other departments
," he added.
Upon his arrival in the Pyrénées-Orientales this Thursday morning, Christophe Béchu said he was coming "to
take stock of the extremely complex situation
" in a department which has "not
received rain for almost a year
"
.
“
We are only at the beginning of April and we know in this Mediterranean region a situation close to that of July
”
,
he had supported.
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The Minister for Ecological Transition was greeted by the sound of pots and pans from opponents of pension reform.
Christophe Béchu was notably to exchange with Hermeline Malherbe, the president of the departmental council.
Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau will visit the Pyrénées-Orientales on May 6.