The Canary Parliament witnessed its first session of the political course on Tuesday, during which Socialist deputy Marcos Bergaz questioned the regional government’s water minister regarding the activation of additional provision number 64 of the Canary Islands’ budget for 2025. This provision allows for an increase in financial resources to address the water crisis affecting, among other islands, Lanzarote.

Financial Resources for Water Projects

This provision includes the possibility of allocating an extra fifteen million euros to enhance funding for hydraulic investments or to improve water quality. It also aims to increase financial resources directed towards addressing the water emergency through “unexpected revenues” or “unused” funds from other budget lines.

Deputy Bergaz reminded attendees that this provision was included in the 2024 and 2025 budgets as a “lifesaving” measure intended to rectify the inadequate investments in water infrastructure initially outlined in the Canary financial accounts. He emphasised the urgent need for activation, especially after Lanzarote and La Graciosa recently extended their water emergency by another six months via a decree from the vice president of the Lanzarote Island Water Council, stating that “the scenario we face is critical,” as clearly stated in the resolution.

Critical Water Situation

“In addition to the water shortages experienced this August,” the deputy continued, “which were reported by the media with headlines such as ‘Lanzarote wakes up with eighteen towns without water amidst residents’ outrage,’ or ‘Residents of sixteen towns wake up this Friday without water in Lanzarote and La Graciosa,’ it justifies the immediate mobilisation of the financial resources allowed by this provision.”

In response, Minister Manuel Miranda acknowledged that this provision has not yet been activated, stating, “We are waiting to assess the state of budget execution for the application of the provision.”

Furthermore, addressing the Lanzarote deputy, the minister concurred, “You say the situation is critical, and I cannot disagree. It has been a problematic situation, yet measures are being implemented. In fact, the significant issues plaguing Lanzarote no longer exist, for example, in Fuerteventura.”

“Your response is that it has not been activated, despite the critical scenario. This is not merely a claim from the Socialist group; it is asserted in the resolution extending the water emergency from the vice president of the Lanzarote Island Water Council. Therefore, there is no time to waste,” emphasized Marcos Bergaz in his rebuttal to the minister.

Delay in Water Infrastructure

To conclude, Marcos Bergaz pointed to the substantial delay in completing and commissioning the new northern pipeline from Zonzamas to Arrieta. “This is yet another reason not to postpone actions that can be taken today, whether regarding ongoing projects or the activation of the aforementioned provision and the financial resources it enables, as there is no time to lose,” the Lanzarote and La Graciosa deputy concluded.