Threatened by landslides, the Grisons village of Brienz could be entirely moved

Wednesday 20th November 2024 10:51 PM

See also: In video – Why does the rock move so much in Brienz?

Blockages linked to land use planning

The current concept plans to create housing for 70 people in Alvaneu Dorf and for 100 people in Tiefencastel, the municipal authorities indicated to the residents concerned on Wednesday evening. People from the region must be treated as priority over secondary residents.

Read also: Threatened by a new landslide, the village of Brienz must be evacuated by Sunday

Laws block rapid rehousing, criticized a resident of Brienz. With current arrangements, it takes seven to eight years. He therefore asked the president of the municipality of Albula, Daniel Albertin, to contact the Federal Council directly and to lift the blockages linked to land use planning so that the development work could begin next spring.

“A response in principle positive” from the Confederation

The municipality says it has requested subsidies from the Confederation and the canton. On Tuesday, the Confederation sent “a response in principle positive” to the canton. It talks about the desire of the federal authorities, in the event of rehousing, to pay the people concerned an amount for their lost land. Until now, this question was excluded and we only talked about the value of the buildings. “It’s really a good signal,” Christian Gartmann, head of communications for the municipal management staff, told Keystone-ATS.

Read also: The canton of Graubünden will have to decide on an evacuation of Brienz

Last week, Environment Minister Albert Rösti (UDC) also spoke about Brienz in the news program “Telegiornale” on Swiss Italian Television (RSI) and promised to show solidarity .

A village that continues to slide

The president of the municipality, Daniel Albertin, was understanding of the desire of the inhabitants of Brienz not to be moved to the shady Tiefencastel valley. “We will not force anyone,” he stressed. He also hopes that everyone will be able to go to Vazerol.

Daniel Albertin returned to his announced resignation at the beginning of November and promised to remain in office until the end of 2026, while he found a successor. On Wednesday, he addressed the residents of Brienz in an emotional speech. He notably declared that he did not want to evacuate the population a third time.

Also read: Return to normal in Brienz: “We hope to be able to live here for the next 15 generations”

Two rescue measures are planned for the threatened village of Brienz. In addition to the displacement of residents now materialized, a drainage gallery is under construction under the village for an amount of 40 million francs. 2.3 kilometers long, it must drain the mass of earth and thus stem landslides. Currently, the village is sliding 2.3 meters per year towards the valley. The 1.2 million cubic meters of landslide threatening the village is growing at 20 centimeters per day. These movements are due to geological phenomena.