Protest Convoy Gains Momentum Against Government-Funded Reservoirs
Hundreds of protesters on bicycles and tractors have embarked on a journey towards the capital, denouncing government-financed reservoirs. The demonstration, which comes five months after violent clashes in the town of Sainte-Soline, aims to voice opposition to the construction of 16 planned reservoirs in the Marais Poitevin nature reserve.
The reservoirs, part of a project supported by the state and a cooperative of 450 farmers, have a total capacity of around six million cubic meters. Their purpose is to store water drawn from surface water tables during winter, to be used for irrigating crops during the rainfall-scarce summer months.
Supporters argue that the reservoirs are vital for ensuring the survival of farms amidst recurring drought threats. However, dissenters are calling for a construction moratorium to make way for an alternative project that promotes improved farming techniques and enhanced water resource management.
With previous clashes resulting in injuries and two activists left in comas, authorities have implemented strict security measures for the current protest, including road closures and the use of surveillance drones. The Bassines Non Merci NGO and the Confédération Paysanne farmers’ union are among the organizers of the protest convoy, aiming to maintain a joyful atmosphere as they pass by several controversial irrigation project sites.
Furthermore, Les Soulèvements de la Terre, co-organizers of previous demonstrations in Sainte-Soline, have announced their participation in the convoy. Despite government attempts to dismantle the collective, their efforts were blocked by the courts.
The procession is expected to reach Paris on August 26th, following a stopover in Orléans where the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency, a co-financer of the irrigation projects, is headquartered. The leader of Bassines Non Merci, Julien Le Guet, hopes that the protest convoy will compel the French government to halt all funding for basin projects.
By adhering to the security restrictions imposed by the police, the protesters will depart from Lezay in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and pass near the Sainte-Soline reservoir site. The local police prefecture has banned demonstrations throughout the entire commune to prevent a recurrence of the violence witnessed earlier this year.
It is worth noting that France’s substantial agriculture sector accounts for up to 80 percent of water consumption during the summer peak and contributes to a fifth of the country’s carbon emissions.
The protest convoy and its impact on the government’s funding decisions will be closely watched by various stakeholders, with the fate of the reservoirs potentially signaling a shift towards alternative farming practices and heightened water resource management.
