Solden (OTS) – After losing the dispute with the municipality of Sölden regarding the use of the Gurgler Ache before the authorities and the administrative court, TIWAG has been claiming for years that it would only pursue a “small” AK Kaunertal (no water withdrawal from the Gurgler Ache). In fact, the “big” AK Kaunertal is still being tinkered with. This is shown by current surveys by TIWAG planning offices in the Gurgler Ache area, which the landowners are not even announced in advance. True to the credo: “We have time, we have money and we have state politics on our side”.
The municipality of Sölden and Wasserkraft Sölden have been campaigning for their ecologically compatible projects on the Gurgler Ache and Venter Ache for years in order to be energy self-sufficient within their own valley (even in times of crisis). The water should stay in the valley. It should be preserved for tourism and agriculture and not diverted from the Ötztal into the Kaunertal via a kilometer-long pipe. Although TIWAG has officially restricted its project to include the discharges on the Gurgler Ache and it is no longer legally allowed to switch to the “larger” AK Kaunertal, inspections are currently taking place in Gurgl again by TIWAG project planners – the landowners have not become the owners notified once in advance.
Vice Mayor Reini Scheiber said: “We want to use our water for energy in the Ötztal. TIWAG does not go into this. She wants to push AK Kaunertal through against all previous decisions. We do not understand why TIWAG takes a justament position, ignores official and judicial decisions and does not openly oppose any proposals – e.g. participation in our community projects. At a meeting, TIWAG once explained to us what its strategy for our projects looks like: “We have time, we have money and we have politics behind us.” It is sad that TIWAG apparently has different rules than the one Rest of the Tyrolean population.“
Attorney Prof. Dr. Georg Eisenberger, with his office Eisenberger Rechtsanwälte, who specializes in water law proceedings, represents the municipality of Sölden, on the current site inspections: “Actually, TIWAG is no longer allowed to implement its “big” AK Kaunertal because the project has been restricted and for legal reasons an extension to the original “big” project is not possible. As you can see from the current surveys, TIWAG seems to continue to ignore this.“
Inquiries & contact:
Prof. Dr. Georg Eisenberger
Eisenberger Rechtsanwälte GmbH
eisenberger@eisenberger.eu
+43 676 8 3647 227
Reinhard Scheiber
Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Sölden
local community@soelden.tirol.gv.at
+43 664 5347 718
– .
