Suffice it to propose the creation of an independent technical commission to analyze the fire that has been raging in the Serra da Estrela for more than a week, deeming it necessary to “identify the causes, find preventive measures and improve operational procedures.”
The party submitted to the Assembly of the Republic a draft resolution (an initiative without the force of law) in which it recommends “the establishment of an independent technical commission to analyze the fire that broke out in Covilhã and engulfed a large part of the Serra River.” Natural Park da Estrela, a protected natural area classified by UNESCO and therefore a World Heritage Site.”
For the far-right party, this fire, which broke out on August 6 in the municipality of Covilhã, “is the cause of one of the biggest natural disasters that have occurred in recent years” in Portugal.
“Just as in 2017, after the tragedy caused by the fires in Pedrogan Grande and Gois, which killed a huge number of people, so now, in the face of what is already considered “the worst fire in the Portuguese natural park”, it is important to investigate causes, find preventive measures and improve operational procedures so that identical situations do not recur,” Chega defends in an initiative that Lusa had access to.
The far-right party leaves a few questions that it wants answered: “How is it that, five years after the big fires in June and October 2017, a tragedy of this magnitude occurred again in Portugal in a natural park? What conditions favored Did the fire break out? Were there meteorological or other signs that foreshadowed this situation? Could the fire have been detected earlier? Was the initial attack the most appropriate? Was the coordination of the attack effective? What should and should be done to avoid this? Do fires of this dimension happen again?”
“Thus, given the scale and severity of this incident, in particular, given the importance of the burned protected area, it again becomes important, as happened in 2017, to establish a technical committee composed of independent experts. working with an Assembly of the Republic that can impartially and objectively answer these and other questions that are considered relevant, and propose solutions that will avoid similar situations in the future,” Chega emphasizes.
In a statement, the party points out that the fire in Serra da Estrela “showed a lack of coordination, strategy and ineffectiveness of the means used by the government to fight the fires in 2022” and believes that “this disorientation of the government should be investigated.” and should have political and institutional implications.”
In the meantime, the government announced that an investigation would be carried out by the Rural Fire Management Commission. This organization, from Chega’s point of view, does not provide the necessary guarantees of impartiality and objectivity necessary for a full investigation of this very case. relevant question”, he also criticizes.
The Público newspaper reported Tuesday that this year’s major fires will be investigated by the National Commission for Integrated Rural Fire Management.
In a conversation with Lusa, the president of this organization, Thiago Oliveira, indicated that this investigation should be completed in October.
The fire raging in the Serra da Estrela broke out on August 6 in Garrocho, in the municipality of Covilhã, and on Saturday, the 13th, was considered defeated, but resumed on Monday.
The fire also affected the municipalities of Manteigas, Gouveia, Guarda and Celorico da Beira, all in the Guarda district.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
