The Ayuntamiento de Cartagena has announced the abandonment of the environmental project designed to enhance rainwater collection in locations around the Mar Menor. Councillor Diego Ortega explained that the council faced difficulties due to the inability to acquire necessary private lands. This decision signifies that the municipality must return a substantial amount of funding, totalling one million seven hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred seven euros, which had been secured from state grants.

The project had intended to function as a complementary initiative to previous efforts made in the rambla of la Carrasquilla and had already received financial backing from the European Union through the Fundación Biodiversidad. The funds were initially allocated to benefit areas such as Mar de Cristal, Islas Menores, and Los Nietos.

Despite current setbacks, Ortega affirmed the council’s dedication to the environmental recovery of the Mar Menor. He stated that they plan to utilise the technical work already conducted as a foundation for future projects. Nevertheless, the project’s cancellation has attracted criticism from municipal groups, particularly from MC, whose spokesperson highlighted failures in obtaining essential grants and fulfilling environmental promises.

The cancellation process will be officially approved during today’s Junta de Gobierno Local, releasing the earmarked budget of six hundred nineteen thousand nine hundred sixty-eight euros intended as the municipality’s contribution, which will revert to local finances. This scenario highlights ongoing challenges in local governance and the complexities of environmental conservation efforts in the region.