Swatek calls for more water storage in Styria

NEOS Styria leader Niko Swatek has called on the Styrian state government to expand water storage, saying its efforts have come too late, ORF Steiermark reported. He also criticised plans for additional federal drought aid for farmers.

Swatek said the existing drought insurance was sufficient. The state covers 55 percent of its cost, while farmers pay the remaining 45 percent.

“The state is already investing a great deal of money in subsidies for drought assistance,” Swatek said. Additional funding could create an imbalance and disadvantage farmers who pay into the insurance, he said.

Swatek called for retention basins and storage facilities to be built along rivers. The aim would be to ensure enough water is available for agriculture and firefighters during droughts.

“We must finally store water efficiently,” Swatek said, adding that the state government needed to take more action because water management falls within its responsibilities.