The City Council of Estepona has started the clearing and pruning work of the channels of a twenty streams and rivers that run through urban areas with the aim of prevent floods and firesas announced on Wednesday by the deputy mayor of the Services and External Control area, Blas Ruzafa.
The work, which began a few days ago in Cowboy Creek and Middle Creek, will continue in the following streams: Hornacino de Levante, Hornacino de Poniente, La Galera, Las Abejeras, El Saladillo, Judío, Cantarranas, La Miel, Los Polvitos, Taraje, Pantoja, Dos Hermanas and Antón. On the other hand, the Consistory will act on the banks of the rivers Guadalobón, Monterroso, La Cala, Padrón and Huertas del Padrón.
Ruzafa has highlighted the importance of these interventions because free the channels of obstacles that could prevent its normal drainage, while prevents plug formation which could cause flooding in case of heavy rainfall.
Furthermore, he underlined that clearing of stream beds It is also done with the intention of prevent forest fires that put the neighbors and the natural heritage of the municipality at risk.
Ruzafa has also recalled that the The City Council only has powers to act in the channels that are in urban areaswhile the Junta de Andalucía deals with the maintenance of those that run in the rest of areas of the municipal term.
These works of clearing and pruning have resumed after the summer season, since the Junta de Andalucía urges not to act from spring on the banks of the rivers to respect the biological cycle that coincides with the laying of eggs of the fauna of the area. For this reason, all the tasks that are being carried out on the banks of streams and rivers have the mandatory authorizations from the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
In addition to these actions, the Consistory continues to carry out clearing and cleaning tasks on rural roads in the municipality. In fact, since last February there has been acted in more than 200 kilometers in length, including the two margins of each path.
Among the ways that have been acted are La Madroña, Nicola, Reinoso, Trocha de Guadalobón, El Reloj, Alberdina-Castor or Courts, among others. The person in charge of Services and External Control has pointed out that these Maintenance and clearing work is carried out periodically to keep roads clean and clear of dry vegetation, especially in times of high temperatures, thus helping to prevent forest fires.
Ruzafa has reiterated that the cleaning and clearing of rural roads “is a priority for the Consistory, since with its maintenance they can avoid other problems derived from excess vegetation such as the visibility difficulties for drivers traveling on these roads and incidents during the rainy season”.