by InTrieste
Italian government declared a state of emergency in Friuli Venezia Giulia, as well as other four northern regions battling the worst drought in 70 years, as was announced on Monday night.
Emergency funds of €36.5 million are to be divided between the five regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte and Veneto.
The funds will be used to tackle the water shortage in the five regions regions surrounding the Po which, at 652km, is Italy’s longest river.
The emergency funds will be divided as follows: €4.2 million to Friuli Venezia Giulia; €9 million to Lombardia; €7.6 million to Piemonte; €4.8 million to Veneto and €10.9 million to Emilia Romagna.
Praising the “excellent work” done so far by regional authorities, Italy’s minister for regional affairs Mariastella Gelmini said the water crisis requires “national intervention” and “immediate solutions”.
Priorities include guaranteeing drinking water to all citizens, she said, as well as assisting companies and the hard-hit agricultural industry.
The drought has been compounded by unseasonably hot weather and low rainfall earlier this year, leading several towns and cities in northern Italy to introduce water rationing.
