Areas of Tavira ravaged by fire in July were visited by the town’s Mayor last Saturday, where he revealed that a rehabilitation project would be launched shortly to minimise negative consequences of the fire and that “all that was lost, must be recovered”.
Joined by the Chief of Municipal Bombeiros, Miguel Silva, Mayor Jorge Botelho discussed what measures are going to be taken to restore the town’s landscape, infrastructures, livelihoods and economy.
“The fire burnt everything and livelihoods were destroyed. Most of the local residents face very unsettled and financially unstable years ahead of them and it is now important that all assistance possible is available to those wanting to move forward,” the Mayor said.
The raging blaze tore through vast areas of rural land for four days causing devastation to homes and land, despite the mobilisation of more than 1,000 fire fighters.
More than 26,500 hectares of forest and dozens of homes were reduced to ashes by the fire in Tavira’s parishes of Vale Murta, Portela da Corcha, Cachopo, Castelão, Alcaria Fria, Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo, Quatro Estradas and Asseca, leaving many families and elderly people without homes.
A project entitled ‘Rosmaninho’ is due to be launched and sponsored by the Centro Social Nossa Senhora das Dores of Santa Catarina da Fonte de Bispo, the Institute of Social Security and the Municipality of Tavira, to reconstruct what was lost.
The overall investment project is expected to cost €300 million and is anticipated to be implemented over a two year period.
The aim is to reconstruct the infrastructures destroyed during the fires and create new buildings to promote fresh business in the town, including the construction of commercial units, housing blocks, electricity and water boards, agricultural landscapes and roads.
The project will also provide emotional assistance and guidance to those affected, and will promote entrepreneurship, family support for the socially vulnerable, community empowerment initiatives and institutions for the development of skills.
“Rosmaninho is ready to be launched, we are just waiting for the final tender to be signed by the Institute of Social Security, which should take place next week,” said Jorge Botelho.
“We expect ground work to begin in mid-November,” he concluded.
