AN APPEAL FOR THE ARNO Forty years after the flood of November 4, 1966, work still needs to be done to assure the safety of the Arno, raise the quality of its water to European standards and to make the most of its banks. In particular we need to carry out those activities indispensable for avoiding the repetition of an event such as that of 1996. In November of 2004 the Plan for the Arno Basin was adopted: it involves works for a value of 1,500 million euros which will assure its complete hydrogeological arrangement. To substantially reduce the hydraulic risk, certain works have been singled out which will cost 200 million euros and should be completed within the next five year. For these a project is available and assessment of its environment impact is under way or has already been carried out. On February 18, 2005, an arrangement was drawn up to finance these works before the end of 2007; 50% is to be sustained by the Italian government and 50 % by the Tuscan Region and by the EELL. The Region and EELL have already allocated 34 million euros, the Italian government has not yet made an allocation. L'Associazione per l'Arno, Ambiente e Lavoro Toscana, Amici della Terra, ANPAS Toscana, API Toscana, ARCI Toscana, CGIL Toscana, CIA Toscana, CISL Toscana, CNA Toscana, Coldiretti Toscana, Confagricoltura Toscana, Confartigianato Imprese Toscana, Confcommercio Toscana, Confcooperative Toscana, Conferenza Regionale delle Misericordie della Toscana, Confesercenti Toscana, Croce Rossa Italiana Comitato Toscana, Italia Nostra Toscana, Legacoop Toscana, Legambiente Toscana, UIL Toscana, UISP Toscana, WWF Toscana LAUNCH AN APPEAL TO THE INSTITUTIONS To assign the necessary resources, improve the laws necessary to have the Arno meet European pollution standards and to complete the activities indispensable for making the most of its banks, starting with a bike path from the source of the river to its mouth. THEY PARTICULARLY REQUEST That the resources be actually allocated, beginning with those from the government regarding the works necessary to be substantially reduce the risk of a repetition of a catastrophe such as happened in 1966 by appropriating before the end of 2007 the necessary figure of 200 MILLION EURO’S The associations and the organizations named above commit themselves through the Arno Association to monitor the progress of the financing and the completion of the various works and to furnish full details of such activities as available. These associations will also be available for working with others to involve both Tuscan and Italian citizens in all ways possible and, lastly, REQUEST ALL CITIZENS, INSTITUTIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE APPEAL |