Hydrogeological instability: 6.5 billion in cuts to land maintenance
According to Ance's figures, the last manoeuvre reduced the resources for municipalities over the next ten years: more certainty is needed instead
3' min read
3' min read
Approximately EUR 6.5 billion of cuts in land maintenance for the period 2025-2034. A large part of which (673 million euros, to be precise), concentrated in the three-year period 2025-2027. It revolves around these numbers, taken from the latest Budget Law, the contribution that Ance president Federica Brancaccio brought to a hearing at the Chamber's Commission on hydrogeological and seismic risk. Weighing on the hydrogeological instability of our territory are the uncertainty over future investments and the governance set-up that should plan contrast activities.
Funds for municipalities
.The data, compiled by the builders, concern the works of the municipalities, including the securing of schools and public buildings, the securing of roads, and all the small interventions in any case linked to the maintenance of the territory. Although the figures from the State's General Accounting Office speak of a growth trend in capital expenditure by municipalities for ground and hydraulic infrastructure works (+131.2% between 2018 and 2024), the future outlook is one of great uncertainty. Thus, the president of Ance hopes that 'the public decision-maker can gradually restore the resources diverted, as happened recently for the funds earmarked for the maintenance of the provincial road network'.
The post-Pnrr investments
.As in other sectors, there will be the question of what will happen after the NRP, which has had a major impact. "To date," Brancaccio explains, "according to data updated to March 2025, 2,481 projects have been activated, for a total value of EUR 2.1 billion, with payments made for EUR 471 million, entirely pertaining to the Civil Protection's share. The Ance data also show that about 62 per cent of construction sites are open or completed, a level of progress slightly above the national average.
Governance without coordination
Along with the problem of resources, there is that of governance. Having archived the experience of the Italia Sicura mission unit a few years ago, there is a lack of coordination between the many levels of government involved in making things safe. For Brancaccio, then, it is necessary to bring 'the coordination of hydrogeological instability prevention policies back to a single entity at a central level, capable of managing in an integrated way the activities of ministries, regions, basin authorities, municipalities and other bodies involved. A first step has been taken with the Pnrr decree and the Casa Italia Department, but this type of coordination must be strengthened.
The distortions of catastrophic policies
Linked to hydrogeological instability, there is the issue of earthquake-proofing. On this from Ance come dubious words about natural disaster insurance. "We note,' Brancaccio says, 'how the instrument does not immediately determine a form of effective prevention of seismic risk. On the contrary, taking out insurance could even deresponsibilise owners or discourage them from taking the necessary steps to reduce seismic risk". There is, in short, the risk of distorting effects.
