All judicial proceedings filed to stop the construction of the Pisão Dam, in Crato, have been returned to the Administrative and Fiscal Court of Castelo Branco by decision of the higher courts, which identified procedural errors in the administrative acts. The president of the Intermunicipal Community of Alto Alentejo, Joaquim Diogo, revealed that the judge is preparing to hear residents of the village of Pisão, technicians, and witnesses, which he considers to be a significant moment for the proceedings.
The dam construction works have been suspended since May by decision of the Central Southern Administrative Court, following an appeal filed by four environmental associations, including GEOTA, to whom the court gave reason. This decision reversed the previous determination of the TAFCB that had suspended the precautionary measure filed.
CIMAA, the project promoter, decided to proceed with the signing of the contract for the construction of hydraulic infrastructures to supply water to the Póvoa e Meadas Water Treatment Plant, worth 14.6 million euros. The project includes pipelines with 25 kilometres of extension between the Pisão Dam and the Póvoa e Meadas WTP, in the municipalities of Castelo de Vide, Crato, and Nisa.
The Crato Multipurpose Hydraulic Development project has an investment exceeding 220 million euros, will occupy an area of 10,000 hectares, and will involve the submersion of the village of Pisão. CIMAA proceeded after consulting lawyers and technicians, considering that this work has its own autonomous environmental impact statement, which allows it to proceed with this phase.
