By 11 votes to 10 and 4 abstentions, the National Council Security Policy Committee (SIK-N) has suspended its advice on the deal for up to a year, the parliamentary services announced on Tuesday. The majority therefore assumes that the variants of the evacuation have not been sufficiently investigated.
The federal government should therefore commission an independent investigation. In this study, specifically the variants of backfill, encapsulation and sealing should be examined in detail, in particular the effects on the environment, the population, the costs and the time of the project. In this year, as many exploratory excavations as possible should also be carried out, so that an in-depth risk analysis is possible.
“lack of courage”
“With this approach, the Commission underlines that it is aware of the particular responsibility of its decision for the future of Mitholz,” the statement said. The explanations of the experts consulted led to a greater need for information among a majority of the committee. The GLP, on the other hand, describes the decision as a “lack of courage” and “a bad signal to the population”.
In December 1947, large explosions occurred in a Swiss army ammunition depot in Mitholz in the municipality of Kandergrund BE. As a result of these explosions, the depot partially collapsed, killing several people and leaving several hundred tons of explosives in the rubble.
The Bundesrat therefore wants to clear the former ammunition depot. In his message to parliament, he asked CHF 2.59 billion for the work, including a safety margin due to uncertainties.
The eviction is expected to take 25 years
The intention is to remove the dangerous ammunition remains and then restore the area around Mitholz. In this way, the risk of major events, such as further explosions, can be eliminated. The evacuation is expected to take about 25 years.
The decision to evict was not easy, said Defense Minister Viola Amherd (60) in mid-November 2022. “It has far-reaching consequences for the residents of Mitholz.” Due to the work, the first residents should leave as early as 2025, and it will be time for the rest in 2030 at the latest. About fifty people in the security perimeter would be affected by the move. (SDA)
Source:Blick
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