Prague, Aug 10 (CTK) – More than eight billion crowns from European subsidies should be spent on fighting drought and on the retention of water in the landscape in the Czech Republic in the next five years, Petra Roubickova, spokeswoman for the Environment Ministry, has told CTK.
The money from the Environment Operational Programme will be invested in projects increasing rain water soaking and the flow in river beds, creeks and flood plains, and improving the natural overflowing of water, Roubickova said.
“European subsidies should also be used for the renovation of damaged or vanished areas and of smaller landscape elements in which water would naturally accumulate. These include forests, riverheads, pools and swamps,” she said.
More than four billion crowns will go into projects strengthening the landscape and its function.
As from Friday, municipalities and businesspeople will be able to apply for more than a total of one billion crowns for measures aimed to use precipitation water rather than allow it flow away through the sewerage system to water courses, particularly in towns and villages, Roubickova said.
A recently approved government document on fighting drought plans the restoration of vanished ponds and timber floating reservoirs.
These valley dams, made of wood and lined with stone and clay have almost disappeared from the landscape, Roubickova said.
European money has been directed to the restoration of the landscape and its water regime for eight years.
According to the Environment Ministry’s data, more than 142 kilometres of water courses were revitalised by the end of last year within the old operational programme and the volume of water reservoirs or polders increased by 20.6 million cubic metres.
Around 4.6 billion crowns were spent on clearing ponds of mud and the construction of small reservoirs and pools.
