Ecologists and Výborný agreed on accelerating flood prevention measures in Krnov

Prague - Ecologists today agreed in a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný (KDU-ČSL) that it is necessary to accelerate the construction of flood protection measures in Krnov. Výborný told ČTK that he would prepare a schedule for the construction of individual measures, but he rejected the proposal from Hnutí Duha to form a working group to reassess the construction of the Nové Heřminovy waterworks. According to the movement, there are cheaper and more environmentally friendly solutions for flood protection, but Výborný disagreed, stating that he would do everything possible to ensure that the dam construction starts no later than 2027.

"A series of flood protection measures in Krnov needs to be accelerated. Some can be implemented once the project is completed, while others do not require waiting," said Výborný, adding that he plans to create a construction schedule for the measures.

Krnov is among the cities most affected by recent floods. Výborný has previously stated that if a dam were built in Nové Heřminovy in the Bruntál region, it would protect Krnov and Opava from flooding and that the damages would not be as severe as they are today after the floods.

The construction of the reservoir has been discussed for decades, but Hnutí Duha Jeseníky has long opposed the dam, and the municipality of Nové Heřminovy also disagrees with the construction. Following Výborný's earlier claim that Duha was delaying the construction, ecologists met with the minister today. Výborný stated that he stands by all his claims but clarified that Hnutí Duha cannot solely be blamed for the delays in the construction. "The state has failed here because it created a legal environment that allows for delays in implementation," he said, mentioning other organizations that contributed to the postponement.

Ecologists are troubled by the fact that Výborný considers the presentation of alternative opinions and options for the dam construction as a delay. "We consider this legitimate, and it is not fair to blame us for it," said Jaromír Bláha from the movement to ČTK.

The ecologists wanted to continue proposing other flood protection solutions rather than the dam construction and called for the formation of a working group to review their proposals. "We still perceive that it is possible to construct projects differently than the dam. If it turns out that construction is the only solution, we would not block further," added Bláha. However, Výborný rejected this.

Ecologists will discuss their further approach to the construction of the waterworks; according to Bláha, it is likely that they will create their own group of experts to evaluate any other flood protection options.

At the same time, Výborný stated that experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Environment, along with specialists from river basin enterprises or the water management research institute, will soon conduct monitoring of the Opava River's bed. "Experts on-site will clearly decide where to return the riverbed to where it was 14 days ago and where we will leave it differently," the minister added. The adjustment of watercourses is important for the affected cities in connection with the repairs of buildings or roads. Duha appreciated that experts would assess the river beds on a case-by-case basis.