AM: Drought Protection Operational Team temporarily completed its work on October 31

(Photo: Pixabay)

Imre Hubai reminded that the government provided the funds for the implementation of water retention measures to be implemented immediately based on the Drought Protection Action Plan (AVAT) adopted in May. The most important interventions were implemented by October 31, including water construction investments and other interventions to expand water supply, worth a total of 3.17 billion forints, and the filling of backwaters to reach maximum reservoir capacity, worth approximately 1.52 billion forints, he added.

The State Secretary highlighted that based on the measures taken by the end of the 35th week, the progress could be characterized by the following data

The water retained in the riverbed was a total of more than 203 million cubic meters, the water retained in backwaters and reservoirs was a total of more than 156 million cubic meters, the water retained by landscape flooding was a total of nearly 1.5 million cubic meters, and the water stored in the reservoirs of the dams was a total of nearly 689.5 million cubic meters, they wrote. Imre Hubai added that the length of the additional canal section included in water replenishment within the framework of the water system development is 848 kilometers, and the area affected by the water system development interventions is more than 114 thousand hectares. A total of 1,042 people worked in drought management. He emphasized that, according to preliminary data, the irrigated areas increased by 10 percent in 2025 compared to previous years, and the area covered by permits issued to meet extraordinary irrigation needs exceeds 10 thousand hectares. The State Secretary noted that Hungarian farmers can continue to count on the government in everything in the future, whether it is about drought protection or water conservation – the statement reads.

MTI