On the eve of the anniversary of the devastating flood in the province of Valencia, disagreements between regional and central authorities have flared up again over the pace of measures to prevent new natural disasters. With the autumn rains approaching, local administrations are voicing concerns about the state of stormwater drainage systems and riverbeds.
The government of the Valencian Community is highlighting delays in the provision of financial support and the start of recovery projects overseen by the Ministry for Ecological Transition. Earlier, it was announced that 500 million euros would be allocated to restore drainage and treatment systems, but these funds have yet to be approved.
In response to the procedural delays, regional authorities have suggested that municipalities use the resources of the state-owned company Vaersa to speed up the work. This decision prompted a central government representative to visit Valencia and promise that, in the coming weeks, the first aid package worth 417 million euros will be signed—20% more than initially planned due to rising costs.
In particular, the municipality of Paiporta, which was hardest hit by last year’s disaster, expects to receive 50 million euros to restore 15 kilometers of streets. Despite project readiness, work has not yet begun. Authorities note that it will take up to four years to implement all the measures, and most cities have yet to start restoration, even though some funds were received earlier.
Regional officials emphasize that ten months have passed, yet municipalities are still awaiting aid approval. As an alternative, there is once again a proposal to speed up the process through Vaersa, provided local authorities support this decision.
The cleanup of riverbeds and ravines, overseen by the hydrographic confederation, remains a separate issue. Five thousand tons of debris have already been removed from the Turia riverbed alone, but problems with clutter persist. Regional authorities insist on the need for clear demarcation of riverbeds and on accelerating the creation of park systems capable of containing floods until major hydraulic projects are completed.
While the central government plans to begin work on one of the ravines only in 2026, regional authorities consider this insufficient. Despite statements about technical cooperation, dialogue between the two levels of government continues to take place through public statements. The only concrete outcome of the latest meeting was an agreement to allocate 30 million euros for the restoration of the L’Albufera natural park, with details yet to be determined.
