Italian government blocks Merse dam amid worsening drought in Tuscany

PD environment spokesman Marco Simiani criticised the Meloni government for rejecting a proposal in the Agricultural Bill that would have supported new water‑storage projects, including a dam on the Merse River in southern Tuscany. He argued that the decision ignores the severe drought and climate‑change impacts that are threatening agriculture, businesses and water supplies in the region. Simiani said the move reflects an inconsistency within the right‑wing coalition, which publicly calls for faster action on the dam while the government votes against it.

The rejected amendment was part of a broader effort to fund additional reservoirs and water‑infrastructure to improve water security for the Maremma and the whole of Tuscany. Simiani pledged to continue pursuing legislative measures to address the water emergency.