PP Demands Immediate Water Guarantees and Flood-Prevention Works for Vega Baja ahead of 2027 “Water Blackout”
- Key concern: PP leaders in alicante warn of an “apagón hídrico” (water blackout) by 2027 if guarantees for irrigation water and the Tajo‑Segura transfer are not clarified.
- Main grievances: Delays in promised flood-control works – the encauzamiento (channeling) of the rambla de Abanilla and the Tabala retention dam – and lack of budget allocation from the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura (CHS) and national government.
- Local risk: vega Baja remains exposed to flash floods (gota fría / DANA) and irrigation shortages, with municipal authorities largely responsible for clearing riverbeds.
- Political angle: the provincial PP accuses the PSOE and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government of offering “lies and falsehoods” rather than concrete solutions.
Introduction
Alicante’s provincial leaders of the People’s Party (PP) publicly rebuked the Spanish socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) this week, demanding concrete guarantees about irrigation water and faster execution of flood-control works in the Vega Baja comarca. The criticism centers on delays in major projects such as the rambla de Abanilla channeling and the Tabala dam – works the PP says are essential to prevent both flooding and an imminent “water blackout” if the Tajo‑Segura transfer were curtailed.
What the PP Leaders Said
Ana Serna, secretary general of the PP in the province of Alicante, told reporters in Orihuela that dialog with the PSOE and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Government “is impossible.” She criticized Socialist visits to the comarca as an attempt to “tell another story” - what she described as “tall tales, lies and hoaxes” – and urged them to present real solutions to two urgent threats:
- Potential suspension of the Tajo‑segura transfer and the resulting “apagón hídrico” (projected by the PP to be a risk by 2027).
- Insufficient flood-prevention infrastructure and slow progress on works promised after past extreme weather events.
Which Works Are at Stake?
The PP singled out two projects it says the national government must prioritize through the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura (CHS):
- Encauzamiento de la rambla de Abanilla – Channeling this rambla is presented as essential to avoid overflow into the orchards and farmland of Orihuela and wider Vega Baja when heavy rains occur.
- Presa de Tabala – A flood retention dam proposed as a laminating reservoir to control sudden flood surges. The PP says it has not even been budgeted by the CHS or the national ministry.
Local Examples and Warnings
María Gómez - PP coordinator in Vega Baja, regional deputy and mayor of Almoradí (the municipality where the Segura river embankment failed in 2019) - stressed that the projects remain at the study or project stage and not in execution. She warned that there are “critically important flood risk alerts” and criticized the national government and the CHS for promises left unfulfilled over the past six years.
Short-Term measures and Whose Duty?
While the PP demands the larger works be fast-tracked, they also insist on maintaining clean river channels now. Gómez noted that, practically, local councils are currently responsible for clearing riverbeds and urged the CHS to keep up preventive maintenance – especially ahead of autumn when “gota fría” events historically bring sudden heavy rain.
Works Led by the Valencian Government
Gómez acknowledged several measures being advanced by the Generalitat Valenciana, including:
- Repair and improvement of local acequias (irrigation ditches) and azarbes damaged by past DANA events.
- Projects to manage floodability such as dredging the Guardamar estuary and construction of protective infrastructure.
- A polder at San Fulgencio to act as a containment basin and a storm tank to protect the Vega Baja Hospital.
Water Security: Tajo‑Segura Transfer in the Crosshairs
Ana Serna raised the alarm about the future of the Tajo‑Segura transfer, describing what she calls the government’s ultimate objective: closing the transfer. She demanded clarity on whether guarantees exist for the transfer or option water supplies for irrigation, stressing the move would seriously affect farmers and the agricultural economy of Vega Baja.
What This Means for Farmers and Residents
Vega Baja is a densely farmed coastal plain where irrigation water and flood protection are both critical. The PP’s message to the public frames the issues like this:
- Without a clear water guarantee,farmers face reduced irrigation allocations or abrupt cuts if the Tajo‑Segura transfer is limited or halted.
- Without timely flood-control works,communities remain vulnerable to flash floods that can devastate crops,homes,and infrastructure.
Quick Facts: Vega Baja Risks & Needed Actions
| Risk / Need | Priority Action |
|---|---|
| Irrigation water security | Clarify Tajo‑Segura status and guarantee alternative sources |
| Flash flood protection | Execute rambla channeling and Tabala dam |
| Riverbed maintenance | CHS to coordinate regular clearing with municipalities |
Political Context and Next Steps
The dispute highlights an ongoing political tug-of-war: the PP pressing for quicker, visible public works and assurances for the agricultural sector; the PSOE-led central government, which the PP accuses of delayed execution and unfulfilled promises. In the short term, municipal governments and the Generalitat are handling some projects, but the PP insists the major flood-control works depend on Madrid via the CHS.
what to Watch For
- Official statements or budget lines from the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura and the national ministry outlining funding and timelines for Tabala and Abanilla.
- Any formal guarantee or contingency plan about the Tajo‑Segura transfer, especially reports about potential reductions or stoppage by 2027.
- Local preparations ahead of autumn’s typical gota fría events, including inspections, channel clearing, and emergency plans for at‑risk towns.
Conclusion
The PP’s public criticism underscores genuine local anxieties: farmers worried about irrigation supply and residents facing flood risk after past episodes of severe weather. whether the Spanish government will speed up major flood-prevention infrastructure and provide ironclad assurances about the Tajo‑Segura transfer remains an urgent political and technical question for Vega Baja ahead of the 2027 horizon cited by regional PP leaders.
Sources and Credits
- Facts from the PP statements reported by Informacion: https://www.informacion.es/vega-baja/2025/09/19/pp-critica-sanchez-sigue-obras-121753917.html