PSOE estimates Government aid to Almería municipalities at 39 million versus 1.4 from the Junta
Topics Almería Regional Government of Andalusia PSOE de Almería
The Organisation Secretary of the PSOE of Almería, José Nicolás Ayala, says the Government of Spain has allocated 39 million euros to the municipalities affected by the storms at the start of the year, compared with 1.4 million from the Junta de Andalucía.
The Almería town councils affected by the succession of storms at the start of the year have received 39 million euros from the Government of Spain, according to the Organisation Secretary of the PSOE of Almería, José Nicolás Ayala. The Junta de Andalucía has contributed 1.4 million, so state aid is 28 times the regional aid, according to his calculations.
Distribution by municipality
Ayala has detailed some of the grants. Huércal de Almería has received 2,238,289.72 euros to repair damaged municipal infrastructure. Added to these are 12.75 million for Cuevas del Almanzora, 5.51 million for Vícar, 4.94 million for El Ejido, 4.68 million for Adra and 3.54 million for Pulpí.
The socialist leader explained that the Executive advanced 100% of the aid in May to 27 Almería town councils, most of them governed by the PP, which has allowed the councils to carry out the repairs without waiting for the final justification of the funds.
Water investments
On water matters, Ayala has stated that the public company Acuamed (Aguas de las Cuencas Mediterráneas) is carrying out investments worth 250 million euros until 2030 to strengthen desalination and associated infrastructure. Among the actions he cited the repair of the Bajo Almanzora I desalination plant, the construction of the new Bajo Almanzora II plant, energy efficiency and discharge improvements at the Carboneras desalination plant and the expansion of the Campo de Dalías plant, as well as interventions to improve storage and supply up to Adra.
Added to this is the modernisation of irrigation promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, with twelve projects in the province: four already completed and eight underway, plus three other scheduled actions. The total planned investment amounts to 211 million euros, he detailed.
Criticism of the PP
Ayala has accused the PP of "lying every time they open their mouths" about the Government's investments and has maintained that the comparison of figures dismantles their narrative of grievance against the province. He gave as an example that the mayor of Huércal de Almería, of the PP, thanked the Ministry for the speed with which the funds arrived.
The socialist official considered that this recognition gains relevance after the weekend rains from storm Adam, which, in his view, underline the importance of having adequate infrastructure.