The session of the Environmental Evaluation Commission (Coeva) was held, in which the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) presented by the Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA) of Ñuble del Embalse Zapallar was approved with conditions, following more than three years processing, prioritized initiative, framed in climate change and water crisis that affects Ñuble.
The project seeks to capture excess water during the four months when the river shows the highest flow, storing nearly 80 million cubic meters of water. In addition, it guarantees human consumption, strengthens Rural Health Services (SSR), provides water to fight forest fires and controls river flooding, preventing overflows and floods.
The regional presidential delegate of Ñuble, and president of the commission, Anwar Farrán Veloso, said: “We understand that this is a strategic work for the region and that it also has the support of our government, because it will allow the irrigation of some 10 thousand hectares that today They are rainfed, which will benefit more than 1,200 farmers. This injection of water resources might transform our region into an agri-food power. However, we are also working to reduce the social impact and improve compensation, mainly for the 12 families directly affected. We understand that it is an important work for Ñuble and that is why it must be carried out respecting people and communities”
The Executive representative in the area added that “that is why I myself met with the Minister of Public Works and the director of the DOH to raise the concerns of the communities. The MOP committed to improving several things that the seremis themselves listed in a document that I myself delivered to the ministry. The MOP made a written commitment to form commissions to resolve some points that we raised. Such as – for example – rental subsidies for those owners who are resettled, which will now be paid for five years and not during the six months that were being offered. Another point to highlight is the reforestation of endemic flora and fauna species, commitments that the MOP agreed to correct and that will be worked on with each seremi. The first commission was set for the last week of February.”
Along the same lines, the Seremi of Public Works, Paulo de la Fuente Paredes, explained: “the reservoir is a strategic work, which does not affect the flow of the Diguillín River. The project seeks to capture excess water during the four months when the river shows the greatest flow, storing nearly 80 million cubic meters of water, also guaranteeing human consumption, Strengthening the SSR, providing water to fight forest fires and controlling river floods. river, avoiding overflows and flooding. In terms of irrigation, we will address nearly 10 thousand hectares, benefiting different sectors of the communes of El Carmen and San Ignacio, where 85% of the water resources of this project will benefit small farmers. The government made a decision, through the Council of Ministers for the Just Water Transition, which instructed us to continue with this emblematic project for the region, all of this in accordance with the needs of adaptation to climate change and the water scarcity that affects us. ”.
For his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Arriagada Vallejos, said that “the project also has a social component, since 85% of the water resources will go directly to small and medium-sized farmers. One hectare of land is equal to one share of water. The positive impacts are greater than the negative ones. With this reservoir, the region advances to become a real agricultural power, which enhances national and regional agri-food security. Without a doubt, the positive impact will be much greater.”
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