Construction Site Seized for Lake Pollution Under the Ronchi Law
Seized construction site and criminal complaint for violation of the “Ronchi Law” against Tiziano Segattini, owner of Residence Excelsior, which the Carabinieri of the Riva del Garda station have been focusing on in recent weeks.
Interventions and investigations by law enforcement
According to the Carabinieri’s findings, during the renovation works on the building along the Gardesana Occidentale, waste materials, rocks, and especially cement, including reinforced concrete, were dumped into the lake. To prove this, law enforcement used the Carabinieri’s patrol boat and the Trento Fire Brigade’s Diving Unit.
They conducted underwater video recordings and took photographs. The photographs (one of which we publish here) show large windows from which the material was allegedly discharged into the lake, in an area where the water reaches depths of 35 meters. The underwater footage confirmed the presence of waste material, mainly cement, on the lakebed. In total, there are between 10 and 15 cubic meters of debris.
Seizure and legal consequences
As a result, the construction site was sealed off and the owner of the residence (who was primarily responsible for the renovation work) was officially reported for violation of Article 14 of Legislative Decree No. 22 of February 5, 1997, also known as the “Ronchi Law”, which addresses hazardous waste.
The case files have now been forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office of Rovereto. It will be up to the Mayor of Riva to issue a specific ordinance to proceed with the cleanup of the area.
Reports and the owner’s defense
The work of the Carabinieri patrol boat began several weeks ago following reports of suspicious patches on the lake, specifically near the Residence Excelsior. The surveillance confirmed these reports, as did the underwater recordings and photographs.
Tiziano Segattini defends himself, claiming to possess a regular authorization issued by the Province to construct a breakwater servicing the beach. However, according to the Carabinieri’s investigations, the discharge zone is located further south and, in any case, the legal parameters were not respected. Consequently, a report was filed.