Farmers Await Compensation for Land Expropriation Near Castiglione Ring Road

If true, it will be a breath of fresh air for the forty farmers, who were stripped of the land nine years ago, which was intended to support the Castiglione ring road. If instead this is yet another bluff, the expropriated will certainly not sit idly by and have a good laugh, but will turn to stronger measures. The protest could even escalate to blocking the ring road.

However, on the part of Anas they assure: “The money is available. The farmers will receive their payment.” And there is also a date: December 4th. For the official payment of the balance, totaling about one billion euros—roughly twenty percent of the total debt—a room at the Castiglione municipality has been booked.

The delivery ceremony and reactions

An official ceremony that should put an end to an eight-year-long saga. The expropriated were paid upon signing the amicable agreement, which covered 80% of the agreed amount. Today, the news brings a sigh of relief to Carlo Anselmi, deputy director of Coldiretti: “After our repeated urgings, we finally have guarantees from the Prefecture,” he says, adding, “If the promises—though I hope not—are not kept, we are ready to take action and block the road.”

The expropriation decree and payment delays

The expropriation decree stipulated that compensation would be paid five years after the agreement by the construction company of the ring road, Mazzi of Verona. However, in 1998, the prefect postponed this deadline by another two years. Supported by trade associations, the farmers also intended to request the legal interests accrued in the meantime.

Another request related to so-called “unusable remnant” areas. During the construction work, the irrigation channels were interrupted and then, during repair, moved away from the roadbed. According to Coldiretti, this shift created strips of land that were unusable for farmers.

Therefore, Coldiretti asked Anas to compensate for this damage caused to the cultivators. It appears that the delays were due to a financial shortfall. Essentially, Anas did not have the funds available for payment, thus turning a deaf ear to repeated requests from farmers, trade associations, and even the prefect, who authorized the expropriations.

“They ran out of money,” summarizes Anselmi, “and a supplementary appraisal was requested. Now we hope the matter concludes.”