Chj Admits That the Huerta Law Halted Flood Control Works in Valencia

Four months after the flood that inundated the southern farmland of Valencia, the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ) has officially acknowledged that the Huerta Law, promoted by the previous regional government of Ximo Puig and Compromís, prevented the execution of the channeling works of the Poyo ravine. This infrastructure was key to preventing floods in municipalities like Aldaia, Quart de Poblet and Xirivella, affected by the DANA.

This acknowledgment comes in the documentation sent by the CHJ to the DANA investigation commission in the Valencia City Council, where it also admits that during Mariano Rajoy's government the project's procedures were completed on time and in form. However, with the arrival of Pedro Sánchez's administration, the works were halted despite meeting all the regulatory requirements demanded since 2010, including their inclusion in the Flood Risk Management Plan (PGRI) and a favorable cost-benefit analysis.

Instead of executing the already approved projects, the CHJ, under the direction of the Ministry of Ecological Transition of Teresa Ribera and with Miguel Polo as the president of the organization, chose to start drafting new plans. These modifications introduced additional conditions, such as adaptation to the Territorial Action Plan of the Huerta of Valencia and landscape integration criteria, which have further delayed the implementation of the works.

The result of this management is that, after more than 15 years since the actions were proposed and with technical reports supporting their viability, the key infrastructures to prevent floods remain unexecuted. The lack of action by the CHJ and the Ministry has left the affected municipalities without effective protection, reigniting the debate on responsibility in flood risk management in the Valencian Community.

The management of the CHJ during the DANA has been criticized for its lack of transparency. The organization omitted key information to the Generalitat Valenciana during the critical hours of the flood, creating information blackouts that hindered the response of emergency services and coordination with the affected municipalities.