Farmers Seek Law Enforcement Over Unpaid Compensation for Expropriated Land

It certainly doesn’t seem to calm spirits—the meeting held yesterday morning at the town hall in Castiglione delle Stiviere between Mayor Sigurtà, the legal representative of Coldiretti, and the farmers “dispossessed” of the land used for the Castiglione bypass.

In fact, the situation has worsened to such an extent that the approximately thirty concerned parties present yesterday have authorized their lawyer to draft a report to the Public Prosecutor’s Office because, despite the commitments made, there has been no news from Anas or the involved companies regarding the funds that should be paid to the farmers.

Status of Compensation and Legal Actions

As is well known, despite the passing years, those whose land was expropriated have not yet received the full amount of compensation: approximately 20% is still outstanding, totaling roughly 5 billion in indemnities.

Claudio Magagnotti, the local secretary of Coldiretti, clarified the scope of this action on behalf of everyone: “Anas, which we contacted today through the mayor as well, says that the money isn’t arriving because the Rome government has not signed the decree.

However, they had previously told us that the company executing the road project should pay us. If the money is no longer available, then let the Prosecutor’s Office investigate where it has gone.”

Reactions and Requests

During yesterday’s meeting, the atmosphere was quite heated, with criticisms directed both at Anas and at the central government in Rome.

Some did not hesitate to also reproach the municipal administration, which had requested noise barriers—barriers that have not yet been installed.

In truth, Mayor Sigurtà, even yesterday, after having written a letter at the end of April, contacted Anas again to request the payment for the expropriated farmland. The phone response was the same: the delay is due to the government not signing the decree.

“We will wait a few more days,” Magagnotti said, “then we will schedule an appointment in Rome with the new government to seek clarity. If that doesn’t work, our lawyer Anghinoi has already been instructed to proceed, on behalf of all the thirty involved subjects, with a civil lawsuit.

We will request that those who owe the payments be compelled to pay, plus interest accrued over the years. Mayor Sigurtà expressed solidarity with the difficult situation faced by these “former” landowners.