The controversy raging over pollution of the Tejo river took on a new twist yesterday (Thursday) when “administrative proceedings” were opened into the ETAR (water treatment plant) at Abrantes.
Readers will remember the sea of foam episode in Abrantes last month which ‘guardians of the Tejo’ blamed on discharges from nearby factories (click here).
Now, the inspector general of IGAMAOT – the body overseeing agriculture, fisheries and the environment – suggests faults may lie elsewhere.
Addressing a parliamentary hearing, Eng. Nuno Banza said: “There will not be first and second tier polluters” – meaning that once the inquiry opened by the Public Ministry has been concluded (click here) “responsibilities for the sources of the pollution will be established”.
Tabloid Correio da Manhã adds that IGAMAOT carried out 246 inspections of the Tejo’s waters last year which resulted in 115 official reports for environmental crimes.
This works out at nine crimes a month, says the paper.
Left-wing MPs attending the hearing were focused on pulping factory Celtejo, said CM – “demanding the resignation of Nuno Lacasta, head of the Portuguese environment agency APA, if it is established that responsibilities lie in the revision of the 2016 licence to Celtejo”.
Meantime, the mass effort to clean the weir at Abrantes where the foam collected so dramatically last month has been 100% successful.
The waters remain clear, without any traces of the 37 cubic metres of foam pumped away into container trucks.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
