Lanzarote’s Water Consortium yesterday voted unanimously to initiate legal proceedings that will result in the seizure of the island’s water utility from Canal Gestión.
The Consortium also voted to terminate the contract for supply, sanitation and recycling of water on the island. The decision followed the presentation of a damning technical report which recommended seizure owing to “serious structural problems” with the service.
Cabildo President Oswaldo Betancort defended the decision, which was taken despite Canal Gestión’s threat to fight the seizure with “maximum force”. Betancort may also face problems with the PP – his partners in the Cabildo ruling group – who urged the Consortium to “put the decision to one side” last week. Canal Gestíon is a subsidiary of Canal Isabel II, a public water company currently operated by the PP in Madrid.
After the meeting the Socialist Mayors of Tías, San Bartolomé and Haría, and Yaiza’s Mayor Óscar Noda, criticised the decision to reject their proposal to create a monitoring committee for the seizure process.
The four Mayors complained that they had not received the same information as other members of the Consortium. Noda said “We hope he (Betancort) reconsiders, because he hasn’t explained to us why a transfer agreement hasn’t been reached, and I think the tariff increase is a factor.”
Noda also alluded to Canal Gestión’s threat last week to fight any attempted seizure with “maximum force”. “We need to be aware that we will end up in court,” he stated.
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