'Neither victors nor vanquished'

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 9

'Neither victors nor vanquished'

CN'.Z PA -Reuter—copyright > } ROME. April 10. Italy has finally approved a preliminary I blueprint for rescuing Venice from the ravages of floods, subsidence, and pollution. The Minister of Public Works (Mr Pietro Bucalossi) told a press conference yesterday that about 300,000 million lire (8354 m had been earmarked for the task.

i Approval of the blueprint, J which took the form of guide, lines for a comprehensive I rescue plan, had been delayed for almost two years (because of disagreements, jthe Minister explained. The delay has been widely criticised abroad, not least by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, which has been waiting for Italian Government action before ; launching an international ! appeal of its own. I Mr Bucalossi said that his I Ministry would now call for ; international tenders for 'building fixed and removable ’barriers across the three sea entrances to the Venice Lagoon. These would control .the high-water phenomenon [that floods the ancient city periodically, eating away at

, the fabric of its buildings. -I Other problems facing Vens’ice are its rate of sinking—- - caused partly by the extracs;tion of water from the sub- , ;soil by artesian wells—and air and water pollution from / the two large industrial com/iplexes on the mainland -1 shores. - j Mr Bucalossi said that s j there would be no further -! heavy industrial development i on the lagoon, and that one l area designated as an industrial zone would be developed lias a port. There would also • be no increase in the oil- • refining capacity of coni- • plexes on the lagoon shores i The Minister described the ! guidelines as “a compromise I achieved after almost two i years of debate, which has • neither victors nor van- : quished.”