The UPA denounces an “unprecedented attack” on the irrigation of Castile-La Mancha in the new hydrological planning

The organization demands from the regional government, and in particular from the Minister of Sustainable Development, Mercedes Gómez, a “clear intervention in defense of irrigation” in the planning process for the period 2028-2033. The UPA understands that the general approach must be reviewed and rejects the reductions which it “considers to be indiscriminate”. The entity highlights the importance of irrigation in the regional economy, in job generation and in the settlement of the population in rural areas.

In this sense, Morcillo recalled that 80% of regional irrigation depends on groundwater and that the majority of aquifers are classified as being in “poor quantitative or qualitative state”, a situation that, combined with the proposed reductions, could become a problem. point of no return for a large part of the agricultural productive fabric.

According to the UPA, the proposals from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge generate a scenario of “enormous uncertainty”, marked by reductions in provisions for irrigation, reduction in irrigable areasthe extinction of rights and mandatory conversion processes to dry land.

In this context, the UPA requests that the possibility of justifying the ederogation from environmental objectives for water bodies in poor condition via article 4.5 of the Water Framework Directivewith a compliance horizon beyond 2027. The organization argues that this exemption is supported by a socio-economic impact and for the disproportionate cost of measures necessary to achieve environmental recovery within current time frames.

Extinction of the Guadiana concessions

The UPA focused on the Guadiana hydrographic demarcation document, where the Administration proposes three alternatives. Both the General Directorate of Water and the Hydrographic Confederation of Guadiana lean towards alternative 1, characterized, according to the UPA, by measures aimed at gradually reducing irrigation, encourage abandonment and encourage conversion to technical drylands.

“The approach includes commercial restrictions for irrigated products, as well as purchases of rights, especially in the area around the Tablas de Daimiel, even proposing forced expropriations of consolidated rights,” said Morcillo, who demanded “immediate explanations” on the references to the extinction of concessions at the end of their terms.

This point directly affects the files of woody crops regularized by the Special Plan of Upper Guadiana (PEAG), which are based on acquired rights. ORThe AP considers “unacceptable that these concessional titles could benefit from different treatment” to that of any other concession in force.

The agitation increased when we learned of the proposal to increase human resources to streamline procedures, particularly those intended to deal with concession terminations. IThe organization called this intention an “insult” to farmers who have been waiting for an administrative response for more than a decade.and stressed that on its own, “it would be enough to demand the resignation of the head of planning”. He also recalled that the situation of priority agricultural operations in Upper Guadiana is still awaiting resolution.

Segura Basin

In the Segura hydrographic demarcation, the UPA warned that the proposed strategy prioritizes reduction of groundwater withdrawals in favor of other sources such as desalination. According to Morcillo, this option leaves the southeast of Albacete in a critical situation because it is considered “zone with no viable alternative.”

The proposed reductions would reduce annual extractions from the current 86.8 hm³ to 30.9 hm³, a figure drop of 64.4%. The organization interprets this reduction as a process that would lead to “massive transition to the mainland in municipalities like Tobarra, Ontur, Albatana, Fuente Álamo or Montealegre del Castillo. “It’s clear.”

The official documents themselves recognize that the socio-economic impact would be very high and estimate annual losses in the demarcation of 277 million euros, with a drop in the value of agricultural production of 101 million per year. They also anticipate a “strong social protest”, which the UPA considers sufficient proof of the gap between planning and the reality of the territory.

Although the plan considers complementary solutions, such as increasing desalination capacity by up to an additional 150 hm³ or strengthening hydraulic connections for supply, The UPA maintains that these proposals do not compensate for the magnitude of the proposed reduction. For this reason, Morcillo asked to move towards “unity of action” in the sources of the Segura and raised the need for representation structures similar to a Central Council of Users, so that irrigators are not “left voiceless”.

Júcar demarcation

The UPA also considers Júcar’s demarcation document “unbalanced.” And, according to the agrarian organization, and despite the fact that 71% of the basin area is in Castile-La Mancha, the proposal maintains a system that increases downstream transfers -like Albufera, Vinalopó and several urban areas- without proposing alternatives that mitigate the additional reductions in provisions planned for the irrigators of Castile-La Mancha.

For all these reasons, the entity requested a meeting with the Central Council of Irrigators of the Eastern Channel (JCRMO) to coordinate a common response before what he considers a decisive moment.