Justice questioned the project and sided with the Zadists. In fact, the administrative court of Grenoble has suspended the decree of the prefecture that authorized the start of works for the construction of a reservoir on the hill of La Clusaz.
The judge considered that the usefulness of this project, aimed at supplying artificial snow to the ski resort, was not sufficient to justify its environmental cost.
They question the legality of the prefectural authorization
The reservoir was to be dug into the mountains at the La Colombière site, currently occupied by opposition environmental activists. Several regional associations, including France Nature Environnement, Nouvelle Montagne, Mountain Wilderness France and the League for the Protection of Birds, urgently seized the court. Since the end of September, activists have organized a ZAD to protest against the project.
For the judge, “the condition of urgency is met by the fact that the clearing work is scheduled for October-November 2022 and that the opponents of the project who occupy the site are likely to be evicted by the police at short notice” .
Criticizing the “legality” of the prefectural decree that authorizes the cleaning published at the end of September, the judge ordered the State to pay costs, amounting to 1,200 euros.
“58 protected species” in danger, “looting” of a forest
The project, with a cost of 10 million euros, plans to excavate 148,000 m3 in the mountain, on a “soil of 5 football fields” to “ensure snow coverage of the ski area up to 45%”, according to the militants of the Extinction Rebellion group occupying the site.
“It will cost the extermination of 58 protected species”, with “looting” of a forest, “danger of wetlands”, and “condemnation of the fish life” of a stream, with “an enormous energy expenditure for the delivery of water”, according to to the same source.
For the mayor of La Clusaz Didier Thévenet, the water retention pond is essential to sustain the economy of the mid-mountain resort and the employment of its inhabitants, who depend largely on tourism. Especially since the snow cover is suffering from global warming and there is a risk of a lack of drinking water due to the increasing irregularity of the rains.
Source: BFM TV
