Lake Garda Municipalities Vote on New Gardesana Services Board Amid Water Management Debate
Municipalities and Province Called to Vote for the New Board of the Gardesana Services Company
Lakeside municipalities and the Province are called to appoint the new Board of Directors of the Gardesana Servizi Company. An assembly convened this afternoon at 5 PM, which will also be tasked with clarifying the direction to take regarding the management of the integrated water cycle.
Two philosophies are in contrast. The one pursued by the Outgoing Council is aimed at establishing a management company for the sewer collection, purification, and drinking water distribution services, primarily operating in the towns around Lake Garda.
This approach has long been pursued to reach, even at the level of authorities, the formation of the Optimal Interregional Territorial Area of Lake Garda, concerning water resources, already outlined in a protocol of understanding signed back in 1998 between the Provinces of Brescia, Mantova, and Verona.
The document essentially reflected what is also indicated by the «European Water Charter», namely that «management of water resources» should be framed within the natural basin rather than within administrative and political borders.
Controversies and Risks Linked to Privatization
This approach is opposed by those who believe, at the moment, in maintaining the status quo until the Municipalities gradually and individually privatize local public services.
However, there is a risk — considering these are small Municipalities — that such services, as supporters of this line argue, will sooner or later be absorbed by large former municipalized companies operating outside the territorial scope.
This would be a lucrative business since, on the Veronese side of Garda, it would amount to roughly fifty billion euros.
Among other issues that the new Board of Directors will be called to address is the contribution status of the Province. It is a shareholder with 16 percent, but it has suspended all payments for years, including the shares due, which correspond to investments and thus to corporate capitalization.
“A moral question of legitimacy therefore arises,” states the letter sent by the president of the Outgoing Board of Directors to the lakeside mayors and to Aleardo Merlin himself.
“Until it clarifies its position, it would not be appropriate,” argues engineer Fabrizio Zanetti, “for the Province to abstain from participating in decisions concerning the Company?” This clear message calls on the Province to clarify its stance.
