Politicians give CHF1 billion to prevent future Rhône flooding

Parliament has granted over CHF1 billion to go towards the next stage of anti-flood works around the Rhône river in western Switzerland. The biggest anti-flood project of its kind in the country, works on the Rhône have been ongoing since 2009, when politicians in Bern released the first of three cash instalments of CHF169 million to shore up the country’s second-longest river. And on Wednesday, the Senate unanimously accepted the financing of the next phase of works: CHF1.02 billion ($1.03 billion) over the next two decades. The measures involve bolstering the embankments in order to protect some 100,000 people and CHF10 billion worth of goods. The works will take place along 162 kilometres of the Rhône in canton Valais, as well as in canton Vaud. Politicians and backers of the initiative say the protection measures will also make the river-banks accessible for citizens and will boost biodiversity in the region. The genesis of the project were the devasting Rhône ...