The Government will hire a consultancy to improve environmental compensation for the expansion of El Prat.

BarcelonaAfter presenting the expansion project agreed between the Generalitat and the Spanish government A few weeks ago, Salvador Illa's administration began taking the first steps toward achieving this. The impact on protected natural areas is one of the main issues, given the rejection generated by the impact it will have on the Ricarda lagoon, and the first process it has launched has a direct impact.

The Department of Territory put out to tender this Friday for the environmental assistance service. The winning company will be responsible for preparing and monitoring the environmental roadmap, with the aim of carrying out the expansion "with maximum environmental guarantees," a key issue for obtaining European approval. This entails establishing the timeline and the different stages to follow, specifying the tasks to be performed in each one.

The administration is seeking consultancies specialized in environmental planning and actions in protected natural areas, with experience in Europe. According to the department, it must have "a team of highly qualified professionals with proven training and experience in the environmental field, so only companies with high technical and professional standing can meet the requirements of such a strategic and demanding project." The tender budget is €120,000 and the execution period is twelve months.

27 protected hectares affected

The consultancy awarded this tender must also review and provide proposals for improvements to the environmental compensatory measures document submitted at the beginning of June. This is the part of the contract that takes up the largest budget, at 63,000 euros. 2000, Ricarda and Remolar, and the European Commission will have the final say. The essential part of the expansion project involves lengthening the controversial third runway, from which most planes take off, by 600 meters. lagoon.

According to the Socialist government, the compensation will multiply the surface area altered by the works tenfold, with 270 hectares. 2002. The creation of a green link interconnecting the protected and agricultural areas around the airport is planned, as well as the launch of an airport environmental fund, to which Aena will allocate resources to improve the Llobregat Delta

.

El Prat sees it as "not very serious"

One of the main opponents of the expansion project is the city of El Prat de Llobregat. Its mayor, Alba Bou, believes it is "unserious" for the regional government to put the environmental assistance service out to tender once the agreement has already been announced. "It demonstrates a lack of strategy and a somewhat erratic vision," she criticized. Toro, a member of the Commons, would have preferred putting out to tender a study to implement the environmental compensation payments that have been pending for more than 20 years.