Porta Maggiore (Great Gate) or Praenestine Gate in Rome. File photoROME, Jun 20A number of Italian regions are ready to declare a natural disaster regime due to the established drought, which hit mainly the northern and central parts of the country against the backdrop of a strong summer heat. According to the Rainews24 TV channel, a technical meeting was held in the Italian government on Monday, which was attended by representatives of relevant ministries , including agriculture, economic development and regional affairs, as well as civil defense services. Italian Minister of Agriculture Stefano Patuanelli earlier called the declaration of an emergency due to drought imminent. The main danger threatens the two northern regions of Piedmont and Lombardy, where Italy's deepest river Po flows. Due to lack of rain, warm winters and lack of snow in the Alps, levels have dropped to their lowest levels in 70 years. According to the President of Piedmont, Alberto Chirio, the level of the river has decreased by 72%. In the Lombard province of Pavia, the river has lost 3.7 meters of depth, said the association of agricultural producers Coldiretti. In this regard, the Piedmontese authorities have asked the government to introduce an emergency regime and the status of a natural disaster for agriculture, which is proposed to use water from reservoirs for production electricity. In Piedmont, 170 municipalities have passed a responsible use of fresh water ordinance, which includes a ban on washing cars and watering garden plots, another 10 are forced to turn off fresh water at night.
Italy has published a list of the 20 most expensive products. Similar initiatives were taken by the leaders of Lombardy, the capital of Lazio and northern Friuli-Venezia Giulia. lead the mayors to take the first steps «to curb» the threat of drought. The situation with water resources is complicated by the heat that has settled in the Apennines. Moreover, from Monday, the Charon anticyclone will come to Italy, which for a week, or even 10 days, will provide temperatures of 38-40, and in the South up to +43 degrees.
