Yesterday, thousands of farmers protested in Madrid over governmental plans to reduce the amount of water taken from the Tagus river to irrigate agricultural land in the country's southeast. Environment Minister Teresa Ribera said on Tuesday the curbs were necessary to prepare the country for the effects of climate change. But farmers and regional politicians say it will affect their livelihoods.
Murcia's regional leader, Fernando Lopez Meiras said at the protest that the water transfer from the Tagus irrigates 70% of the fruit and vegetables exported by Spain. He warned that 25,000 jobs could be lost if the water transfer is cut off.
The government is acting after the Supreme Court ruled that the Tagus must have a rate of water flow that's considered "ecological", which means it must not fall below 8.65 m3 per second. According to the government, which has not specified how this will affect the transfer of water, the reduction will be done gradually over five years.
Source: reuters.com