The PS-Madeira Parliamentary Group has requested clarification from the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries regarding the rehabilitation project for the Palheiro Ferreiro lagoon. The socialists question the benefit to the population of a public investment that, they claim, "fundamentally serves private users".
The intervention, put out to tender by Águas e Resíduos da Madeira (ARM) with a base price of €2.93 million, was authorized by the Regional Government with financial participation that could reach €3.499 million, fully covered by the Regional Budget.
The PS points to discrepancies between the current project and one announced in 2023, which foresaw an intervention of around €2 million with community funding and the construction of a sports park "open to the public". The socialists want to know the volume of water used by Palheiro Golfe, that intended for agricultural irrigation, how many irrigators are served, and what agricultural area benefits, to determine the extent of public benefit.
