2024-06-02 17:01:50
Many areas in Bavaria are at present affected by flooding. The state authorities is now coming underneath criticism: in recent times, financial savings have been made in particular in flood safety.
In view of the extreme storms and ensuing flooding in southern Germany, the Bavarian state authorities is coming underneath criticism. The coalition of the CSU and the Free Voters has lower flood safety in Bavaria since their first joint time period in authorities in 2018.
In all probability because of monetary bottlenecks, the Bavarian state authorities has quickly stopped or postponed a number of flood safety initiatives within the Free State in recent times. In accordance with the Bavarian Broadcasting (BR), the Cham district and the city of Roding are amongst these affected. Yesterday, Saturday, the Flood Intelligence Service (HND) issued a warning degree of 4 for the Regen river in Cham in Higher Palatinate.
“Tasks stagnate and must be paused”
Josef Feuchtgruber, head of the Regensburg Water Administration Authority, defined to BR in January that as a result of pressure on state budgets attributable to the Corona disaster, the struggle in Ukraine, value will increase and migration issues, “the funds are usually not accessible.” The monetary scenario has worsened in current months.
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Tasks needed to be “postponed, prolonged or quickly stopped”. Even initiatives which can be already underneath building would stagnate or must be paused. In accordance with info from the Water Administration Workplace in January, a further ten to twenty million euros are lacking for the implementation of all deliberate initiatives.
As early as 2018 – when the CSU and the Free Voters fashioned a coalition for the primary time – austerity measures have been applied. That is in response to a report within the “Welt” newspaper from that yr. Amongst different issues, three of ten deliberate flood polders on the Danube have been canceled. This occurred underneath strain from the Free Voters throughout coalition negotiations.
Flood safety not “for enjoyable”
This was already met with criticism on the time: Alexandra Riedl (Free Voters), Mayor of Roding, expressed her unease in regards to the resolution of the Water Administration Workplace: “It can’t be a process that for a measure that’s deliberate over ten years […] now abruptly there is no such thing as a cash left and no additional planning is feasible.” This was not completed “for enjoyable”, however “within the perception that flood safety had been promised”.
The Bavarian Ministry of the Atmosphere introduced on the time that loads of funding had been made in flood safety in earlier years. Nonetheless, elevated building prices and power costs may imply that particular person initiatives can’t be applied.
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) traveled to the flood space close to Augsburg on Saturday along with State Inside Minister Joachim Hermann (additionally CSU). There, Söder thanked the emergency providers. Bavaria is crisis-proof, he stated.
The scenario is an “excessive burden” for the residents, stated the Prime Minister. He continued: “It is not over but. It is solely simply getting began.” The storm is at present concentrated in Swabia, which is why sources – akin to sandbags – are being concentrated there too.
“Do you’re feeling responsible, Markus?”
On Sunday, Söder is predicted to be within the flood space once more – this time along with Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens). The 2 politicians wish to first get an concept of the scenario in Reichertshofen within the Higher Bavarian district of Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm. A firefighter died within the district throughout a rescue operation through the evening. Learn extra about this right here.
Söder known as the dying a “stab within the coronary heart,” as he wrote on the X platform. “His dedication and dedication to his fellow human beings will all the time be remembered.” Söder expressed his condolences to the firefighter’s relations and colleagues. “We’re all grieving. It simply hurts.”
Customers on X commented on the Prime Minister’s put up in an accusatory method. “Do you’re feeling complicit, Markus?” requested one consumer, sharing an article about Bavaria’s austerity measures in flood safety. “Change your coverage, Mr. Söder,” appealed one other consumer, whereas one other demanded that flood safety have to be revised and considerably improved.