The huge underground ammunition depot Mitholz was buried by an explosion in 1947. Nine people died. The camp was not evacuated afterwards, but it was checked periodically. In 2018, experts concluded that the camp posed a greater risk than previously thought.
The Bundesrat is sticking to the goal of cleaning up the ammunition remains, it announced on Wednesday. The project eliminates the risk of major events such as further munitions explosions. The evacuation project is designed to last approximately 25 years.
Suddenly a billion francs more expensive
The Federal Council is now asking Parliament for a commitment credit of CHF 2.59 billion. This must be distributed: the first tranche – CHF 1.09 billion – will be released with Parliament’s decision. This money will be used to prepare the evacuation and take protective measures.
An additional CHF 740 million is needed for the actual clearing and disposal of the munitions remains, for the rehabilitation of the site and finally for the resettlement of Mitholz. The Federal Council intends to release this amount in function of the progress of the project.
The Bundesrat intends to use the last CHF 760 million to absorb inflation and project risk surcharges. Because there are still ambiguities about the exact location of the ammunition remains, the condition and the exact amount.
Thousands of tons of explosives and ammunition
According to one estimate, up to 3,500 gross tons of ammunition with several hundred tons of explosives lie in the collapsed parts of the facility and in the rubble cone. There are also uncertainties regarding geological and hydrological conditions.
The Federal Council wrote that an outside agency controlled the cost planning. Last August – before the review – evacuation costs were estimated at 1.5 billion Swiss francs. Due to the risks and inflation, there was talk of a commitment loan of CHF 2.5 billion at the time.
On Wednesday, the Bundesrat also approved the spatial planning basis for the evacuation of the former ammunition depot. With the Mitholz object sheet of the military sector plan, evacuation, security and installation perimeters are definitively and bindingly established by the authorities.
During a hearing, the population, the affected communities and the cantons of Bern and Valais confirmed in principle the plan, the Federal Council wrote. (SDA)
Source:Blick
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