Delta Programme Commissioner visits Limburg disaster area: ‘Analysing first, then drawing conclusions’
On the 22nd of June, Delta Programme Commissioner Peter Glas was in Limburg to visit the area hit by flooding. At the invitation of water board council chair Patrick van der Broeck, he spoke with local residents and regional administrators. ‘I am taking all these impressions with me, in my role of Delta Programme Commissioner.’
During his visit, Mr Glas met with, inter alia, mayors Daan Prevoo and Mirjam Clermonts-Aretz of the municipalities of Valkenburg and Meerssen. These areas were overtaken by the high water and are now working on social relief for the flood victims. On his way over, the Delta Programme Commissioner was handed a letter from a local resident requesting him to commission a study in order to find solutions to the current flood protection of the region. ‘I cannot promise anything, but I will pay attention to these issues and see to it that answers are found,’ he responded. The staff of the Delta Programme Commissioner will ensure that the questions end up with the appropriate officials.
Following the tour and several press interviews, Josette van Wersch of the Limburg district water board threw more light on the events. ‘Occasionally, we felt that the world was coming to an end, that is how dark and depressing it all was,’ she looked back.
During his visit, Mr Glas met with, inter alia, mayors Daan Prevoo and Mirjam Clermonts-Aretz of the municipalities of Valkenburg and Meerssen. These areas were overtaken by the high water and are now working on social relief for the flood victims. On his way over, the Delta Programme Commissioner was handed a letter from a local resident requesting him to commission a study in order to find solutions to the current flood protection of the region. ‘I cannot promise anything, but I will pay attention to these issues and see to it that answers are found,’ he responded. The staff of the Delta Programme Commissioner will ensure that the questions end up with the appropriate officials. Following the tour and several press interviews, Josette van Wersch of the Limburg district water board threw more light on the events. ‘Occasionally, we felt that the world was coming to an end, that is how dark and depressing it all was,’ she looked back.
‘Now that the high water has gone, it was befitting to gather impressions here and to listen to those involved, to take into consideration in my role of Delta Programme Commissioner,’ Mr Glas looked back. ‘I am upset by what I have seen. I wish the victims all the best. Furthermore, over the past few days, we have all witnessed how tremendously hard emergency services and volunteers have worked to prevent further damage and to clear up the debris. My sincere respect for them. And yet we can also see the fruits of the efforts that Limburg has expended in the past, such as near Ooijen-Wanssum and the Water in Balance programme.’
Repairing the damage still requires a lot of work, but according to the Delta Programme Commissioner, we must also look ahead. ‘What can and must we do to prevent such severe flooding?’ Mr Glas wonders out loud. ‘As the Delta Programme Commissioner, I am always taking a long-term view. We are considering how we can keep our feet dry, and how we can retain water for periods of drought. And how can we fit climate change into the spatial planning of our country, or even of a city or village? To approach such issues in a level-headed manner, we need to get our facts straight. We must analyse such facts. And only then must we draw conclusions, consider what is necessary, and adapt our planning and schedules accordingly where needed. Ergo, I am all for a thorough study into the events and into their potential causes and consequences.’
The Delta Programme Commissioner has reflected on the events in Limburg via various media. Read an overview here.
Photo source: Waterschap Limburg
