The government decree will allow authorities to cut red tape and take immediate action if they deem it necessary, such as imposing water rationing on homes and businesses. The Po is Italy’s longest river running more than 650 km (400 miles) through rich northern Italy. However, many sections of the waterway have dried up and farmers say the flow is so weak that seawater is seeping inland, damaging crops. read more Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register The government said in a statement that the emergency measures would cover lands bordering the Po and the watersheds of the eastern Alps. More broadly, it also introduced a state of emergency in five northern regions – Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto – initially committing 36.5 million euros ($38 million) to help them deal with water shortages. “The state of emergency aims to manage the current situation with extraordinary means and powers, with relief and assistance to the affected population,” the government said. He added that further measures could be taken in the future to tackle the drought that water authorities say is increasingly affecting central Italy after an extremely dry winter and spring followed by an exceptionally hot early summer. Italian media reported that Prime Minister Mario Draghi was also considering appointing a commissioner to coordinate the response to the drought, similar to how the government created a commissioner to oversee the coronavirus crisis. ($1 = 0.9596 euros) Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Giulia Segreti and Alex Richardson Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
