Spanish Government criticized for slow sewage repairs after DANA floods

The Spanish central government is facing criticism for its handling of sewage infrastructure repairs in municipalities affected by the 2024 DANA floods. Nearly two years after the catastrophe, only 11.25% of the planned actions to repair the sewage system have been executed. Rather than coordinating and directly managing the works, the central government has delegated responsibility to local municipalities, transferring 300 million euros to towns already struggling with reconstruction efforts.

The Generalitat has noted that this model is ineffective, requesting changes to state regulations and more flexibility for emergency works. While the Generalitat has directly managed waste removal through emergency contracts to accelerate responses, major hydraulic infrastructure projects, such as the channelization of the Poyo and La Saleta ravines, remain stalled. Additionally, ordinary flood prevention works under state jurisdiction have an execution rate of less than 5%.