EDIA: Irrigators Alqueva are over 5 million debt.
In a year the irrigators with debts increased 687 to 2508 and the amount to settle grew almost 150%. public company no good reasons for this increase, whose value is greater than 5,2 million.
The debts of irrigators Alqueva before the Enterprise Development and Infrastructure of the Alqueva (EDIA), Fins structure that manages the Development of Multiple alqueva (EFMA), in 31 December 2019 noted an increase of 140% for the same period last year.
According to data provided by the administration of EDIA, late last year, the cumulative value of debt 2.508 It was irrigators 5.205.309,65 euros, against 2.154.625,03 euros 687 irrigators with arrears, in other words, more 3.050.684,62 euros than in 2018, pointing out that in 31 December 2017, the amount charged was not 1.268.302,81 euros.
For the campaign last year, we 120.000 hectare structured area, wherein 88% It is apt to water, in other words 94.261 hectares, they were inscribed 1.773 irrigators, more 103 than the previous year's campaign. For campaign 2020
Segundo a EDIA, "There are debts outstanding since the year 2010, amounting to 5.992,76 euros. On these amounts have already been implemented tax foreclosures ", clarifying the company while Entity Performer recognized by the Tax and Customs Authority "between 2014 and 2019 initiated 285 processes of Tax Enforcement ", not revealing the recovered value with such actions.
A EDIA, led by José Carlos Salema, It does not explain the reasons that led to the rampant increase in debt, explaining that "customers who have outstanding balance to the registration date for the irrigation campaign, It held annually, It is not renewed the contract, not having access to water ", justified. In this case the company clarified that can succeed two situations: "The farmer has a debt of the previous year and is not made new contract, or negotiate a payment plan and then approved by the Board of Directors, returns to be made a new contract for the following year ", clarified.
The Lidador News (LN) He asked the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries (Nadrif) I was aware of the situation, justifies that "given that it is an effective debt, it assumes different degrees depending on whether the overdue debt billing or ongoing debt divided by a pre-payment plan negotiated center the company and customers ", concluded.
The Ministries of Agriculture explained that "EDIA is a limited company which among other tasks responsible for managing the EFMA", justifying the act "management", see also understood that as, "The management of the treasury and the current account of the management of the company", holding that are sent "Audit Reports approved and controlled" the Ministry, he also shareholder.
When I placed the question ponders changing the rules of sale of water, MADRP ensures that "the integrated management model of secondary primary networks and proves to be a success, both in irrigation management as the effective collection of services, there is no need to create additional ", justify the ministry.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
