(Keystone-ATS) The Waldo-Valais standoff continues over the third improvement of the Rhône in Chablais. Representatives of the Vaudois support their Council of State in efforts to advance the project, while the canton of Valais “condemns” its neighbor’s reaction.
The strain originates from a study initiated in Wallace in 2022. Its goal is to determine whether this third Rhône reform project, which has been in the works for several years, still meets current challenges and needs.
The findings of the report are not yet public, but the canton of Vaud was able to obtain the first version. And he was concerned by a study that would question the project, which would impact the Vaudois portion of the Rhône in Chablais.
According to RTS, which provided the information on Monday evening, the report suggests that the project’s safety and environmental objectives were “overstated”. Options for widening the river would have been rejected too early, causing too much impact on agricultural areas.
Wallace doesn’t understand
The Vaud Council of State wrote to its Valais counterpart in mid-April to express its concern. Contacted by Keystone-ATS on Tuesday, the canton of Valais said it “condemned” the response by Vaud authorities. He said he “does not understand” this point of view, “even though the Valais Council of State has not yet ruled on this matter.”
And while Vaud officials criticize Valais’s “unilateral approach”, the latter admits that he has “always supported dialogue with Vaud authorities” and intends to continue in this way, but “through the media. No.”
vaudois resolution
On Tuesday afternoon, the Grand Council of Vaud unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at supporting the Council of State in its efforts. “It is our responsibility to make sure this project moves forward as quickly as possible,” said Egle trustee Gregory DeWad, the author of the text.
Like his colleagues who spoke after him, the PLR elected official expressed “fear” of seeing a project “start from scratch” after two decades of study. According to him, the project is “essential” to protect the area from floods as well as enable its economic development. Other important projects for the region, such as the Massongues-Bex-Rhône hydroelectric power plant, also depend on it.
“Find a way”
State Counselor Vassilis Venizelos said he shared these concerns. He also noted that the Confederation’s funding could be “compromised” if the project had to be significantly modified.
The Environment Minister indicated that discussions would be held with the Valais Council of State “in the coming days” to “find a way to move this project forward as quickly as possible.”
Vaud and Valais share the Rhône in Chablais. It is in this area that the so-called “Chablais priority” measure is planned, namely the widening of the river by 15 km. Upstream, the measurement starts at Bex (VD) on the right bank and extends from Massongex (VS) on the left bank, to Yvorn (VD) and Vouvry (VS). The development plans were validated by both cantonments in 2016.