Experts dealing with the drought problem in Poland will meet again at the nationwide Stop the drought conference! The subject of the meeting, which will be held on 18th June in Bydgoszcz, is defined by its title: Stop the drought! – the catalogue of key measures. The lectures and speeches will present, among others, benefits, practical possibilities and legal paths to access specific activities that minimize or eliminate the effects of drought. The conference is organized by PGW Wody Polskie, and the honorary patronage will be held by the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Nationwide conferences and public consultations are elements of the Stop the drought project implemented by PGW Wody Polskie! Its effect will be a plan to counteract the effects of drought in Poland. This is the first such comprehensive project of measures in this field in our country. During the Warsaw conference, the first in a series of three nationwide conferences, among others a growing problem of water scarcity in our country was presented. The phenomenon of drought was also identified and divided into its individual types. Now the time has come for the conclusions from the survey conducted among 3.5 thousand stakeholders. The result will be a proposal of a catalogue of meaures necessary to minimize or eliminate the effects of drought.
– In the first place, we must precisely define the expectations of stakeholders. The results of the surveys are not unequivocal in this respect. Then we will define, among others, a package of measures to increase resistance to the effects of drought and a plan to optimize methods of material and financial support for those affected by effects of drought. The completed project will be then subject to six months public consultations process in mid-August – says Rafał Jakimiak, a specialist at the Planning Department of PGW Wody Polskie, the manager of the team developing a plan to counteract the effects of drought.
– We will also discuss proposals for investment measures for both natural and artificial retention. The problem with water in our country illustrates the flood threat, which affected us at the end of May. The masses of water carried by the rivers shed through Poland and reached the sea. In the project Stop the drought! the point is to keep as much of the water as possible within the country and manage it rationally – he adds.
The preparation of the Plan to counteract the effects of drought is the responsibility of the President of Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie as defined by art. 240 par. 2 p.8 of the act as of 20th July – Water Law (Journal of Laws 2018, item 2268 with later changes). The presentation of the draft plan will be based on national conferences and 6 months social consultation process, which will start in mid-2019. All works financed by European founds (POIŚ 2014-2020) will be finalised by the end of 2020.
