The two sides in the dispute over the modernisation of the irrigation systems in Calasparra met for the first time in a spirit of cooperation although there were moments of tensions.
The meeting was organised by the Mayor of Calasparra, Jesus Navarro, who had previously declared that he “wanted to defuse the climate of hositility” over the issue of modernisation between neighbours in Calasparra.
Representatives of all political parties attended the meeting, including the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, Jose Velez; Jesús Martínez and Miguel Martínez of the PP, and Ricardo García and Eduardo Moya of the United Left and Greens.
Also present were representatives of the local Farmers and Smallholders Association (Asociación de Regantes del Argos) and the opposition group, ARDEVAS, and the lawyer, José Antonio Córdoba, legal advisor to the Town Hall.
The aim of the meeting, according to the Mayor, was to sit all the parties around the table with all the political parties and a lawyer in order to produce a final agreement that satisfied those in favour of modernisation and those against it.
The lawyer, José Antonio Córdoba, clarified some issues such as that “prívate water” does not exist and that the modernisation project was totally legal and this was why work had already begun on installation. He was also able to reassure the meeting that those who had not signed up for the modernisation of irrigation systems on their land would not have to pay anything towards the project but would be exclusively responsible for paying for the maintenance of the existing irrigation canal system.
The opposition group, ARDEVAS, declared they did not understand how this final point would work in practice and demanded that the Farmers and Smallholders Association brought explanatory documents to the table at the next meeting.
All the political parties agreed that the meeting was “positive” and “a starting point to resolve the delicate situation faced by local landowners.”
