A meeting point between provincial and national governments for flood response tasks in Buenos Aires

About a week after the Chief of Staff’s press conference, Manuel Adorni And the Minister of Security Patricia BullrichIt was announced that aid would be provided to those affected by the floods in the center-west of Buenos Aires province. The national and provincial governments have not yet developed an action plan to contain the impact on production. This was acknowledged by Damian Costamagna, head of the District Water Authority (ADA), who said: Despite his participation in the meetings, he pointed out the lack of details from the nation. “There is no specific plan” He crosses. Meanwhile, Santiago Hardy, Director of the Federal Emergency Agency (AFE), from the national government, said: He replied: “I don’t know what the county’s plan is either.”

Two days ago, the Minister of Security participated in a summit with the mayors of the most affected parties. “I have no details on what has been accomplished or how it will proceed. “There is no plan in place.”He pointed out in an interview with Nation. The promised six machines are not yet operational They indicated that the funds are sufficient for one working day for each municipality. There is no road map indicating how and where the promised measures will be implemented.

“The plan is to cooperate with local authorities in cleaning the roads where floods occur and those affected. There is a nation machine at work in La Niña. I don’t know what the county’s plan is either. We act according to the emergency situations notified to us by municipalities. “When that happens, we reach out and help in certain places.” santiago hardy, The head of the Federal Emergency Agency (AFE), who added that they are heading to the most affected places and based on the needs of the municipalities.

“Due to the exceptional nature of falling water, we continue to operate with machines, technicians and equipment; Progress is being made in developing agreementsHe added.

While Costamagna, who participated in the first meeting between the nation and the regionwhich was issued on Thursday after the government announced, where the Regional Directorate of Hydraulics, Roads, Civil Defense and representatives of the Federal Emergency Agency and the Argentine Army met, that the nation had reached “ They understood the situation.” “They didn’t come up with anything specific. “The shipment of machinery was only mentioned informally.”“, detail.

Last Saturday, Bullrich traveled to 9 de Julio, where he met with mayors, regional officials and contact table leaders, and announced the shipment of six machines –Two excavators, a loader, a chassis, and two graders-And a box $1.9 billion For 19 municipalities in a state of emergency. The money will be used to purchase stones, roughage, fuel and materials needed to repair rural roads. But the technical calculation reveals the weakness of the scheme: They explained that this is equivalent to less than 100 million per municipality, which is the amount spent in one working day.

“This is not enough, and the mayors have made this clear with the minister. They appreciated the intent, but the amount didn’t offer much of a solution. “Today there is no basic strategy or coordination on where to work first.” Continued Costamagna, who noted that there were meetings today with the mayors, and depending on which areas are most important, the nation will decide where to start.

But, until that happens, in The province maintains they have their own operations: Machinery, pumping and repair of rural approaches to 9 de Julio, Bolivar, Carlos Casares and 25 de Mayo. Between last August and October. The province has accumulated more than 1,000 backhoe hours in 9 de Julio alone and 600 hours in Carlos Casares. In Bolivar and 25 de Mayo, teams are working on emergency drainage and pumping.

He added: “I do not have details about, for example, where these six machines are, or if they have already arrived, or in what areas the work will begin. The machines that have arrived do not have the logistics, which the province will certainly provide.”

ADA President He stressed that lack of coordination delays aid. He explained that the bodies, at the regional and national levels, must be appointed unanimously among the mayors, since then “By saving one area, you can complicate those downstream.”

However, this consensus cannot yet advance because ““The nation has not given any indications.” As he insisted, “it hasn’t been decided yet,” so when asked about the timeline, he was frank: “The nation has not developed an action plan. If you ask for a timetable, that plan does not yet exist.”. Many fields are at risk due to the amount of water falling. On July 9, the annual average is about 850 to 900 mm, and this year it is already expected to reach 2,000 mm. It is a low-lying area, with no natural streams flowing toward the Salado Basin. It all depends on artificial channels or evaporation. “In a flood like this year, the first thing to secure is urban areas,” he said. “Many times machines are there because the first thing is to save lives.”

The main structural work consists of Stage 4 of the Rio Salado, Section 2, between Roque Pérez and Saladillo, It has remained without progress since December 2023. “If this 35-kilometre work is not stopped, the impacts will be much less,” he said.

Water Infrastructure FundFunded by a percentage of the fuel tax, it collected more than $260 billion between 2024 and 2025 and has not made any progress. “All help is welcome. We will not put ourselves in a childish position: any cooperation works. The truth is that no matter how many machines there are, there are areas you cannot enter. You have to wait until the water goes down. He stressed that many roads can be filled with rough, stone or dirt, so that they act as protection and prevent water from continuing to drain into different areas.

As Costamagna highlighted, in Carlos Casares The most dangerous situation is in the dairy area, in the cities Quiroga, Santos Unzue, and CambaceresDairy farms are severely affected by flooding of roads and pastures. in July 9, The region is among the most participating regions. Problems continue to occur Reaching the La Niña phenomenonwhere work is done to restore blood circulation, and in Intersection of Routes 65 and 70which is connected to a party General Viamonti.

Meanwhile, in Bolivar The greatest complications are recorded in North partyExcess water affects rural roads and productive means of access. Moreover, in The border area between Bragado and 9 de Julio Water continues to accumulate in low-lying areas, with impassable roads keeping producers and rural residents isolated.

Finally, Hardy explained about the fuel aid for the machines: “It’s an important aid: it’s a million fuel, in the value of the product, so that municipalities can purchase materials.”.