In the spring of last year, in Sakana, in Izan and Goierri, flooding was introduced in the municipalities of these areas for the conduct of geological surveys for the works of the TAV. In the canyoning 15 surveys have been requested in the municipalities, from Erro to Olazti / Olazagutia. This was serious news, as the teams that formed the STOP AHT Survey initiative understand that the surveys are the beginning of the works of the TAV. What has been done so far has not been a pointless exercise. As the Secretary of State for Transport recently pointed out, the surveys are one year late. It considers that they have problems in being able to carry out these studies due to the existence of a solid staff on the part of both municipalities and individuals.

The purpose of the surveys to be carried out on public and private land is to obtain samples of between 27 and 209 metres in depth. Furthermore, according to the information received so far, the surveys have sometimes been carried out in an irregular manner, without legal guarantees, in breach of the corresponding administrative procedures and at the expense of those affected. Instead of probing the opinion of the citizens, those who seek profit only sow land, mountains, grasslands and streams with the intention of crushing them.

At a time of severe climate, economic and social crisis, the crisis is worsening and squandering money on an infrastructure that does not fulfil any social function, that is to say more than EUR 215 million so far. Furthermore, we must not forget that the TAV, which will not be able to transport goods because of technical constraints, will need a great deal of energy for its operation, much greater than that of conventional rail, and will necessarily bring other macro-infrastructures to our environment in order to cope with this abusive energy consumption. The works also involve the loss of communal land and the cultivation of hundreds of hectares, the increase in CO2 emissions, the damage to protected areas and to biodiversity and the morbidity of the current railway infrastructure, something that can already be seen clearly.

As we did in autumn between Lakuntza and Arbizu, on this occasion we have organized a mountain march to learn about the four probing points existing between Errotz, Izurdiaga and Urritzola, by 8 June, to share with the citizens the information that has reached our reach. In addition, the protocol against the surveys we launched is still in force. If you are aware of a survey, first of all, it is essential to contact the town hall in order to receive advice. You will then contact AHT Zundaketa Ez at the following telephone number: (0034) 656 71 11 30.

We do not want to leave our future in the hands of entrepreneurs who do not want to understand or understand anything about the reality of the Barranco, with this macro-project that has neither head nor paw, and that will be filled with cement, stones, gravels, etc. We still have the possibility of stopping the polls. Now is the time to join forces and to express a strong condemnation of the citizens in the face of this tremendous infrastructure.

Jule Goñi Montero, representing STOP AHT Surveys.