€30 million project in the pipeline THE Junta de Andalucia has committed tens of millions of Euros to a project connecting the Guadalhorce reservoir with others in the area. The scheme would also see surplus water from Rio Verde and the La Concepcion reservoirs brought to areas most in need, including Malaga City, which was recently forced to take 1.5 cubic hectometres from La Viñuela and 47 from Guadalhorce. The news comes after the Provincial Council last month began considering a raft of emergency proposals to deal with the ongoing drought threat in Axarquia. In addition to continuing the current irrigation ban one day a week, several measures are being discussed. The first is to connect the Chillar river to La Viñuela reservoir, which would bring in around 2.5 cubic hectometres of water a year. The project is now awaiting an agreement between the Environment Department and Tragsa. Farmers are also calling for further connections with reservoirs in VelezMalaga, Algarrobo and Torrox, which they believe would bring in a further 10 cubic metres of water, costing €800,000. Last week, Jose Fiscal, councillor for the Environment, said the increasing lack of water supplies in La Viñuela reservoir are “beginning to take their toll.” The councillor acknowledged recent irrigation cuts, preventing farmers watering their crops one day a week, with the aim of reducing water use by 10 per cent, are not working.
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Froome goes for glory
Seeing red! By Matt Ford British cyclist Chris Froome is hoping to break his Vuelta a España hoodoo as the second week of racing draws to a close. It comes as the peloton head for Malaga Province after tackling the Costa Blanca, Murcia, and Almeria earlier this week. The four-time Tour de France winner is looking to become the first rider to win both the French flagship event and Spanish tour in the same season since the latter was moved to August and September from April in 1995. Having consolidated his position in the leader’s red j e r s e y o n l a s t S a t u r d a y ’s challenging stage 8 from Hellin to Xorret de Cati, t h e Te a m S k y l e a d e r opened up an even larger gap after winning Sunday’s stage 9 from Orihuela to Cumbre del Sol. Following a rest day the battle resumed on Tuesday with stage 10 from Caravaca de la Cruz to Alhama de Murcia. Despite challenging conditions at the start of the
AIMING HIGH: Chris Froome. day, with heavy rain lashing the riders, Froome managed to stay out of trouble ahead of yesterday’s stage 11 from Lorca to the Calar Alto Astro-
nomical Observatory in Almeria, located at 2,168 metres above sea level in the Sierra de los Filabres. Miguel Lopez took the win on the first summit
f i n i s h o f t h i s y e a r ’s Vu e l t a , b u t F r o o m e finished second to extend his lead to one minute and 19 seconds over the Italian Vincenzo Nibali after the dramatic final climb fragmented the race. Today (Thursday) the race resumes in Motril, Granada, before heading along the Costa Tropical and inland to Antequera in Malaga Province. The stage is due to get underway at 1.15pm with ideal vantage points including Nerja (2.23pm), Torrox Playa (2.35pm), Velez-Malaga (2.50pm), Puerto del Leon in the Montes de Malaga (4pm) a n d P u e r t o d e l To r c a l (5.01pm). To m o r r o w ’s s t a g e 1 3 starts in Coin (12.43pm) a n d e n d s i n To m a r e s , Sevilla.
Agony and the ecstasy
THE HAUL: The couple were arrested for drug dealing.
Credit: Ayuntamiento de Velez Malaga
31 Aug - 6 Sept 2017
Photo credit Team Sky/Twitter
ISSUE NO. 1678
THE National Police have arrested a couple, aged 37 and 36, for selling speed and MDMA from their home in Torre del Mar. The pair, who share their house with their four young children, have been arrested for drug trafficking and been handed over to the judicial authority. Police seized 190 grams of MDMA and 25 grams of speed, as well as €800 in cash, after receiving a tip-off about the couple. Officers searched the property, allegedly finding the narcotics and discovering the pair also delivered the drugs to various areas in Torre del Mar.