Emergency repairs on flood channels

THE regional Environment ministry yesterday began urgent works on three water courses badly affected by rain in December, when, unable to cope with the volume of water, they burst their banks and flooded the surrounding countryside. The three channels are Gros, Coanegra and Barbara which jointly will need some 600'000 euros spent on them. The most important works include shoring up broken walls, clearing out the trapped flotsam which the strong currents dragged down with them and levelling up the base of the dry beds. Minister Miquel Angel Grimalt said that the Balearics are expecting to sign an agreement with Central Government which will mean grants of 15 million euros towards water course (torrent) improvement.