Why Valais wants to review the correction of the Rhône

The origin of the dike break which is chilling Valdo-Valais relations comes from an infiltration of polluted water. Monday, the RTS revealed in fact that the Vaudois government was very angry by the attitude of the Old Country in the context of the third correction of the Rhône, which commissioned a study calling into question the project. But where does the problem come from? Launched more than twenty years ago, the third Rhône correction project really began to take on water in 2021.

The 2010 decade was, however, to mark the progress of this colossal file, estimated at nearly 4 billion francs. Because if the affair had often turned into a pitched battle with the UDC and the agricultural world as fierce opponents, the Valais population gave a positive signal by accepting part of the financing of the correction in 2014.

Carcinogenic substance in the river

But Valais will be disappointed, especially because of the pollution cases, revealed by the denunciations of the former head of the Valais Environment Service, Joël Rossier. In Visp, the correction has in fact influenced the level of the water table, and benzidine, a carcinogenic substance, was found in the river, which raises fears of other scandals of this kind. Then Jacques Melly, the former state councilor in charge of this file, was taken down by parliament even in his own camp, The Center.

In 2021, the Valais Grand Council challenged him on his desire to create a service dedicated to the correction of the Rhône, thereby crystallizing all the criticisms. It is estimated that “the project is dead”, we speak of the “fiasco of the century” due, in particular, to the poor consideration of polluted sites. The shower is freezing but the State Councilor maintains his decision. At the same time, a new cantonal risk analysis has been published: in ten years, the potential negative effects of a Rhône flood has fallen from second to thirteenth place, far behind earthquakes and landslides.

No decision made

In March 2021, Franz Ruppen (UDC) replaces Jacques Melly. His first decision was not long in coming: he brought together all the natural dangers under the same service and, without calling into question the correction of the river, did not hide the fact that aspects must be re-discussed. This is where the analysis that is the subject of the quarrel between Vaud and Valais comes in at the end of 2022. At the time, it was a question of carrying out an “inventory of the project” and considering modifications.

The report is expected to be released soon. But, a sign of the imbroglio that reigns in Valais, the Grand Council continues to grant credits for the correction as originally imagined. The last time was in May 2023, 39 million were released for the Vernayaz sector. As for the analysis, it has not yet been the subject of any decision, neither from the Valais Council of State nor from its parliament.

Did you find an error? Please report it to us.

0 comments