In anticipation of what will be the representation of the PSC in the new Council of Ministers that will be made by President Pedro Sánchez, the leader of the opposition in Catalonia, Salvador Illa, has resumed his critical but "constructive" role, as he says, on the action of the Government of Pere Aragonès. Two issues capture this criticism: the response to the severe drought that Catalonia is suffering and the delay in the implementation of renewable energies, on which the Catalan community is "the red light" of Spain, he lamented.
In statements from the Besòs water treatment plant (Barcelonès), Illa warned that Catalonia is at risk of facing a future "without water and in the dark" due to the lack of planning, prevention and action of the successive pro-independence governments, the last ten years in these two areas. But he promised that he would provide help, which he based on three premises: willingness to "collaborate", "proportionality" in the measures and, above all, "speed" to execute the investments.
"We will help, but when we have overcome the most complicated moments, we will have to ask questions", warned Illa, referring to the Government's responsibilities.
The leader of the PSC was very critical of the inaction of the Catalan Executive in matters of water and energy. "What have we done these last ten years? Why are we not ready? Why, if we knew three years ago that we were facing a severe drought, have we done nothing? Where have the energies of the Catalan institutions been focused these ten years?", he questioned.
Illa reported that the Government had been warned of the severity of the drought for some time. He recalled the words of the director of the Meteorological Service of Catalonia, Sarai Sarroca, last week in Parliament, when she said that the Meteocat warned of the serious situation that would arrive in the spring of 2021, while the interdepartmental commission of the Government to face this crisis was created in the fall of 2022, a year and a half later.
The leader of the PSC launched a couple of proposals, such as turning the Besòs treatment plant into a regenerator that allows to take advantage of 50 hm3 that are now thrown into the sea, and to use the emergency and exceptional mechanisms to speed up works and contracts, as it was done during the covid pandemic.
The socialist leader also pledged to "thoroughly review the Catalan Water Agency" when the crisis is over. Illa is not happy with its management and is committed to reviewing its performance in the face of the drought, as well as its competences and resources.
