On the same day that Motril saw one of its main thoroughfares flooded out, the main entrance for Salobreña disappeared under a puddle, too. …And it happens every year.

Faulty town planning? Well, yes and no, as the problem appears to be that an irrigation channel that existed before the new lower part of Salobreña was built still empties out into that same area; i.e., where the schools and tourist information office are.

Affected bars, shops, etc can’t understand why something isn’t done about it but the Mayor, Gonzalo Fernández Pulido, wrings his hands in resignation and points to the farmers and their irrigation channel as the culprits.

He insists that the problem is not caused by a deficit in the rain-drainage infrastructure.

Farmers with land on the Coto 50, 100 & 200 (coto means ‘level’ or ‘height’ in this case) close the sluice gates when the rains come to divert the water down this 50-year-old, main irrigation channel, says the Mayor.

Fifty years ago there were sugar-cane fields at the other end, which positively love lots of water, but the fields have gone and in their place stand schools, shops and business premises.

The Mayor, of course, doesn’t want to upset the farming sector and freely admits it: “I don’t want to go against such an important economic sector, but the business sector is no less important, and I am not going to let them jeopardize citizen safety,” he threatened.

According to the Mayor, there exists a project that would cost 200,000 euros that would divert this excess water elsewhere but neither the Junta nor the Irrigation Association is interested in financing it.

He may be reluctant to fall out with the farmers but that won’t stop him doing it, as he has already instructed the Policia Local to draw up a report on the flood damage caused, as well as urging the affected businesses to report their damage. He has warned that once he has the report, he will consider taking legal action against the agricultural sector.

You can see more photos of the flooded area by visiting Hecho en Salobreña. Don’t forget that you have to be signed into your own facebook account in order to view them.

(News: Salobrena, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia – Photo: Mari Carmen Molina Bustos)