Palma, Mar 13 (EFE).- The Balearic Government has asked the Government to declare Mallorca a catastrophic area to provide financial aid and tax benefits to those who suffered material damage from the stormy Juliette between February 26 and 28 and has approved by decree law own aid to the victims.
The Government Council has approved the request at the same meeting in which it has given the go-ahead to an urgent regulation that contemplates subsidies for agricultural losses caused by storms of snow, rain and wind.
The president of the Government, Francina Armengol, has been convinced that the central executive will approve the declaration of the entire island as an “area seriously affected by a civil protection emergency” and has assured that it will provide all the necessary funds to the regional program of help.
Armengol, who has presented the decree in Sa Pobla to show that the Government will alleviate losses in crops such as potatoes in that area of Mallorca, has pointed out that regional aid may be added to those approved by the central Government.
The storm affected, in addition to the potato sector in Sa Pobla and Muro, olive and carob crops throughout the island, sheep farms in the Serra de Tramuntana and, in general, all the vegetation in a extension of 14,167 hectares.
The Balearic Islands Agrarian and Fisheries Guarantee Fund (Fogaiba) will prepare a prior census of those affected and an individualized assessment of damages for the distribution of aid.
The decree law also contemplates measures to expedite the repair of the damage caused by the hundreds of thousands of felled and damaged trees, both to reduce the risks of pests and to prevent fires in the coming summer season.
Likewise, a special regime has been established to simplify administrative procedures and reduce deadlines, both for aid from the regional administration and for those that can be approved by the Consell de Mallorca and the town halls.
In the request for a declaration of a catastrophic zone made to the central government, the Balearic executive argues that although there were no personal injuries, the storm Juliette forced the evacuation of dozens of people, to supply water and food to many who were left isolated, and left without electricity supply to some 25,000 citizens.
Likewise, significant damage was caused to the island’s road network and to the electrical and telecommunications infrastructures.