ruth901
With a view to the next round table meeting in Neuhof, the citizens' initiative is demanding “complete transparency” from the Kassel regional council (RP) with regard to the municipality's drinking water supply.
Neuhof – In the dispute over the question, whether the supply of drinking water in Neuhof could be endangered in the futurethe BI “Umwelt Neuhof” sees the RP’s stance as “in need of explanation,” as it did when asked by Fulda newspaper explained. The background is that the BI fears salinization from wastewater from the potash mine. In doing so, she relies, among other things, on information from the expert she commissioned, Dr. Ralf Krupp.
Kaliberg-BI calls for transparency when it comes to drinking water supplies
The company Kali+Salz rejected this concern as unfounded. The RP had also announced that there was currently no evidence of a threat. The BI now wants to know in more detail how the authority came to this conclusion.
“If four wells in the area of influence of the dump are already salty, then you have to ask how reliable the statement can be that there is 'currently' no danger,” explains Sabine Waschke, one of the chairmen of the BI. “We expect the regional council to finally transparently explain which data supports this assessment – and why warning signals from the past have apparently not led to effective protective measures.”
The BI is now demanding detailed information from the RP on the salinization of several wells, on official measures – or lack thereof – and on possible responsibilities. The question of why geoelectrical measurements and groundwater investigations in the Neuhof area have not been expanded for years is also the focus of a corresponding inquiry.
“It’s not about apportioning blame, but rather about clarification,” emphasizes Waschke. “The population has a right to know whether and how their drinking water resources are being protected,” said Waschke. “We expect complete transparency – and not just when more wells become salinized and are therefore irretrievably lost.”
The next round table meeting will take place on April 22nd. Then the expert appointed by the BI should explain his paper and comment on the specific risk situation of the Neuhof tailings dump with regard to the municipality's drinking water resources.
