Vega Baja Flood Plan Stalls with €314m Unspent as Program enters Final Months

The Partido Popular (PP) has questioned the Spanish government over the slow progress on flood-prevention projects in the Vega Baja region. In Congress, the party highlighted that only around 5% of the €330 million allocated to the region under the Segura River Basin Flood Risk Management Plan for 2022-2027 has been spent. Despite entering its final year, this represents roughly €16 million of the budget.

The parliamentary initiative, led by Joaquín Melgarejo, seeks an explanation for the delays affecting major projects like the Tabala dam, Abanilla ravine work, Santomera diversion, and proposed green corridors for the Segura River's renaturalization. The PP argues that the lack of progress is particularly worrying in a region that remains vulnerable to floods following the 2019 DANA storm.

Projects are currently at various stages, from design to public consultation, with no clear timelines for construction. The party demands details on the reasons for the delays, whether they are due to insufficient funding or technical/administrative obstacles, and whether the Ministry has assessed the increased flood risk for residents and agriculture while projects remain unbuilt.

The Abanilla ravine project, allocated €50 million, is still classified as "not started" in the 2024 monitoring report. The PP questions the current status of this project and its tendering process. Concerns also arise over the Tabala dam, which has a budget of €71.8 million but is not expected to go to tender until 2027. The party seeks clarification on the timetable and measures to address farmer objections, particularly regarding water quality returned to agricultural land.

Additionally, the PP wants to know how the Ministry will secure agreements with farmers, irrigation communities, and landowners for flood-control zones or green corridors that require privately owned agricultural land. The initiative extends beyond the Vega Baja, asking the government to disclose the spending and implementation rates of the €840 million allocated to the entire Segura River basin, comparing it with other Spanish river basins.

The PP argues these figures are necessary to determine if the Vega Baja and the wider Segura basin are being neglected as the current planning period concludes.