RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – As a result of the “impact and consequences that the most important historical drought the last 77 years is generating in the water account of the Paraná, Paraguay and Iguazú rivers,” President Alberto Fernández has declared a “State of Hydric Emergency” for 180 days.
Affected by the new regulation are the areas of the Paraná River Basin, as includes the provinces of Formosa, Chaco, Corrientes, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Misiones and Buenos Aires.
The declaration empowers Cabinet Chief Santiago Cafiero, in his capacity as chairman of the National Council for Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection, to “delimit the areas affected by the emergency.”
The presidential decree also instructs different areas of Government to adopt measures to “mitigate the consequences of the serious situation generated by the downturn.”
Thus, the Ministries of Productive Development and Labor will act jointly in order to look after the region’s productive activity and the jobs which may have been impacted.
The Ministry of Public Works will be in charge of arranging and monitoring the execution of infrastructure works.
The Security Ministry will plan support measures and decision-making through the National System for Early Warning and Emergency Monitoring (SINAME), and assist coastline populations through the National System for Comprehensive Risk Management (SINAGIR).
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development will maintain fire control and the Ministry of Transport ”will observe the possibilities of navigation and access to ports.”
The National Water Institute will provide technical services and the Ministry of Energy will have to guarantee the supply of electricity to the areas affected by the drought.
The national bank (Banco Nación) and tax bureau (AFIP) will provide assistance in their areas of competence.
The presidential decree also lifts all administrative deadlines in the affected regions.