Dry: Mayors and farmers in Alto Alentejo insist on advancing the Pisão Dam

The dam has already been announced for three prime ministers, Mário Soares, António Guterres and Durão Barroso, but continues to build near the small village of Piso, Crato in the county, District of Portalegre.

The president of the Chamber Crato, Joaquim Diogo, He said he recently asked audiences to the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment for “sensitize” the Government of the need to be achieved the hydro-agricultural project.

Crato of the socialist mayoral position The decision comes after “some dislike” to note that the state budget for 2018 does not include “absolutely nothing” for the construction of the dam Pisão (pictured the dam of Piso, located in Beringel, county Beja), also not part of the National Dam Plan.

The mayor recalled that the reservoir has been “taken” by Águas de Portugal company as a project “fundamental” for public water supply.

Contacted by Lusa, the president of the Intermunicipal Community of Alto Alentejo (CIMAA) and also president of the Field House Higher, Socialist Ricardo Pinheiro, said the hydro-agricultural project Piso should be seen as “a priority” it is a “strategic investment” for the Alto Alentejo.

The president of Portalegre District Farmers Association (AADP), Fermelinda Carvalho, also defended the construction of the dam Pisão, at a time when the region is undergoing a “terrible time” Drought. “This dam would change agriculture in the region, allow to other crops and improve production and profitability”, He explained.

In June 2013, Mayors of 15 municipalities of Portalegre district suggested the Government to take the “necessary measures” to raise funds from EU funds so that the work progressed.

The latest project developed for dam construction, in 2013, according to CIMAA, provided that the reservoir would cover an area of 3.200 hectares, with the components of public water supply and irrigation, but would require the immersion of the small village of Piso, about 100 population.

The project pointed to a storage capacity of 100 million cubic meters of water and the irrigation area could benefit about nine hectares of the municipalities Crato, Alter do Chão, Border, Portalegre and Avis.

News: DN economy