Lawsuit to halt 260 hectares of intensive irrigation

Six environmental organizations have initiated legal action against a 260-hectare intensive tangerine farming project in Alcácer do Sal. They argue that the project could consume nearly double the water currently used in the municipality, threatening groundwater reserves. The lawsuit aims to challenge the Environmental Impact Declaration issued in August, which allowed the project under certain conditions, including significant water extraction. Despite reducing the agricultural area, the water extraction limits remain unchanged. The organizations emphasize the critical state of the aquifer, which supplies water to local populations, and call for an independent study before issuing new water extraction licenses. They are also launching a crowdfunding campaign to support legal costs.