Riva del Garda Approves Gentilini-Tiso Project Amid Opposition

The “yes” to the Gentilini-Tiso project on the western variant of Riva del Garda resulted in fifteen hours of debate in the city council, but ultimately it was approved, as the assessor Grisenti had wanted.

However, this approval does not dispel the substantial reservations regarding the exit of the 640-meter-long gallery at Monte Oro: a solution that was essentially imposed by the province and which the residents of Riva ended up accepting.

The majority approved the project believing it was better to get a development that resolves long-standing issues of traffic overload through the city center.

The opposition and obstructionism

The opposition, on the other hand, outlined a broad range of opposing reasons, though in the end they chose to abstain.

The obstructionism practiced by Daves and Zambotti materialized during the final evening of debate, following an (contested) interpretation by the secretary-general Righi, who stated that the regulations for council meetings prohibit any intervention except for the declaration of vote within ten minutes, on agenda items proposed by councilors during the general debate on the resolution.

Nevertheless, Daves and Zambotti did not relinquish their efforts to slow down, to the maximum extent permitted by regulation, the approval of what they still see as a monumental mistake.

Thus, the approval of the four remaining agenda items (by the majority, Daves-Zambotti, An, and Riva Domani) occupied the council until around 10:30 pm.

Then, the vote — still following the streamlined procedure — took place on the overall approval of the project.

The reasons for opposition and potential risks

The reasons for opposition concern, in addition to the exit at Monte Oro, also the Varone roundabout.

The majority, with its document, requests not to consider the hypothesis of a long tunnel, extending south of the power plant, as definitively abandoned; in fact, it would become necessary if alarming increases in pollutant gases occur near the center.

It has not been clearly understood — nor has anyone in the coalition clarified — whether this is a genuine hope or merely a facade attempt to have the best of both worlds.