Malaga, (EFE) 26 people have already been arrested and 44 are being investigated.
The detainees are accused of alleged crimes against natural resources and the environment and usurpation of public water, for the alleged fraudulent use of water to irrigate subtropical crops, all with a serious risk of environmental damage, according to reports. informed this Tuesday the Civil Guard.
The investigation began four years ago when a complaint was received before the Seprona from the Malaga Civil Guard Command for the fraudulent use of water for irrigation in the Axarquía by farmers of subtropical crops that could be causing significant damage. of hydraulic reserves.
Subsequent to this complaint, others were added in recent years, among them, the one carried out collectively by several farmers in the area who denounced the governing board of several irrigation communities for the misuse of water.
They inspect 3,453,008 m2 of crops
Supposedly, irrigation was being allowed outside the 140 level range, being completely prohibited, with the consequent economic damage to farmers who adjusted their risks to what was legally established.
The researchers inspected 3,453,008 square meters of subtropical cultivation where it was possible to verify how the continuous extraction of public groundwater was carried out for several years in the body of water called Metapelitas de Sierras Tejeda-Almijara through 299 uses, by means of wells, boreholes and rafts.
According to a report from the Junta de Andalucía’s Hydraulic Public Domain Service, which has collaborated with the investigation, more than 250 of the 299 inspected uses were illegal, all of this despite the serious water situation in the area.
Based on the information provided by the Junta de Andalucía, it is estimated that the total amount of water illegally diverted since the start of the activity would amount to approximately 25,951,198 cubic meters.
The total extension of the surface subject to illegal irrigation would rise to 240,242 hectares and it has been possible to cause damage to the public hydraulic domain that is estimated at approximately 10,000,000 euros.
The Junta de Andalucía reported that these illegal water withdrawals had occurred when the body of water was found to be overexploited, and even when the area had been declared since June 2021 by the regional environmental administration in a situation of prolonged drought and a situation of exceptional drought, and As a consequence, a period of regulated water restrictions had been established.
About 3,000,000 euros of damage to the public domain
Regarding the irregularities reported against the irrigation communities, the researchers believe that 2,220,555 square meters of land in that area could be illegally irrigated with water from the Irrigation Communities.
And according to the investigations, said water was derived with the knowledge of the irrigation communities themselves and their managers, who could breach their specific legal obligation to act.
The amount of water illegally diverted by these irrigation communities can amount to approximately 2,481,712 m³ and economically it could mean around €3,000,000 of damage to the Hydraulic Public Domain Service in recent years.
In addition to those arrested and investigated, there are 39 people involved as participants for profit.
The operation is carried out by the Nature Protection Service of the Civil Guard (Seprona), under the direction and coordination with the Malaga Environment Prosecutor’s Office.
The proceedings have been made available to the Investigating Court No. 1 of Vélez Málaga. EFE