Italy declared Monday a state emergency in the Po River area. The Po river accounts for about a third of Italy's agricultural production. It is currently experiencing its worst drought in 70 years.
This government decree will enable authorities to cut through the red tape and immediately take action if necessary, such water rationing for homes or businesses.
The longest Italian river, the Po, runs more than 400 miles through the rich north. Its waters are used to irrigate rice fields, farm fields, and grazing land, which includes some of the milk that is used in making Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Many stretches of the waterway are now dry, and farmers claim that the flow is so weak, seawater is seeping into the inland areas, which is threatening crops.
In a statement, the government stated that emergency measures would be taken for lands bordering the Po and water basins in the eastern Alps.
It also created a state-of-emergency in five northern regions, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia Giulia and Lombardy. This fund was initially 36.5 million euros ($38,000,000) to aid them with the water shortage.
The government stated that the state of emergency was designed to manage the current situation using extraordinary powers and means, and provide relief and assistance for the affected population.
The water authorities stated that they could take further steps to address the drought, which is increasingly affecting central Italy following a very dry winter and spring, followed by a hot early summer.
