- Representatives of the Añana and Trebiñu gangs, as well as farmers and ranchers in Álava, have denounced that they suffer "enormous institutional contempt" for the work of the AVE. More than two million square meters of “fertile land” will be expropriated in these places. During the weekend, an "action of resistance" is organized in Ribabellosa.
Farmers and ranchers in Alava have denounced that the AVE comes to the lands of Álava "as a ruthless hurricane". Representatives of the municipalities and councils of different districts, members of the Araba Viva group, as well as the unions UAGA and Bionekazetza, in an appearance on Wednesday, have reported on the situation brought about by the works to transport the high-speed train from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Miranda de Ebro.
“Our lands have witnessed a tremendous institutional disregard,” they explain. In fact, although several people have developed an alternative to AAV, "it was rejected without any shame." Thus, they denounce that Adif has decided to "conspire" to expropriate the plots, although in some cases these plots will only be used as quarries not for AAV.
"This behavior shows a worrying indifference to our territory and a total disregard for those who live there," they explain. They also denounce the "lack of commitment" of the Provincial Council of Álava and the Basque Government, which claim that the intention shown to protect the rural environment is "nothing but smoke".
For this reason, they call on the people of the affected villages to attend an "action of resistance" that will take place on January 26 in Ribabellosa on the occasion of the Boilur Fair: “It is time for those who govern to remember that true development is not measured in kilometres per hour, but in our ability to keep our lands, our peoples and our future alive.”
1,914,399 square meters
Some data have also been released during the same outbreak to show the extent of the expropriation of agricultural land in Álava. Thus, almost two million square meters (1,914,399 m²) of land will be expropriated by Adif in these areas of the southwest of Álava.
The amount of land expropriated in some municipalities will be very large, such as in Berantevilla, where more than 600,000 m² will remain in Adif’s hands. In other places, in addition to agricultural land, municipalities such as Pamplona-Oka and Vitoria-Gasteiz will also lose a large amount of urbanizable land.