Many towns are still struggling with the effects of the floods that hit southern and southwestern Poland in mid-September. On Monday (September 23), Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Arkadiusz Marchewka informed on air TVP Infothat according to current estimates, the losses in water infrastructure caused by the disaster alone amounted to almost PLN 3.5 billion, and in road infrastructure – PLN 1.5 billion. These amounts do not include the destruction in local government and local infrastructure. The final balance will therefore be much higher.
Should You Build on Floodplains? Readers' Opinion Is Unambiguous
The scale of the disaster has reignited the debate on investments and properties built in flood areas. In connection with this, Next.gazeta.pl decided to give readers a chance to express their opinion. In one article, we asked the question: “Do you think that construction should be done in flood areas?”. By 2 p.m. on Wednesday (September 25), 13,555 people had taken part in the survey.
The vast majority of respondents believe that there should be no development in flood areas. 9,040 people, 67% of the entire group, indicated the answer: “No, flood areas should be free from development”. Another 3,060 respondents (23%) also stated that the distance of development from flood areas should be at least five kilometres. Therefore, a total of 90% of readers were opposed – 12,100 people.
1,336 people who responded to the survey had a different opinion – a total of 10 percent. The largest number of them, 795 respondents (6 percent) indicated the answer: “Yes, to a limited extent, each application should be assessed separately”. Another 259 survey participants (2 percent) indicated that such investments should be implemented only if they are properly secured. 282 people (2 percent) see no problem with building on floodplains and did not indicate any additional conditions. 119 people had no opinion on the subject.
Building in Floodplains. What Does Current Law Say?
According to the Water Law Act introduced in 2018, the construction of real estate in floodplains depends on a decision issued by Wody Polskie. This body issues opinions, among other things, on spatial development plans developed by municipalities and provinces. Meanwhile, a report by the Supreme Audit Office from April 2023 indicates that some local governments ignored the recommendations issued.
Polish Waters alone issued over 19,000 decisions on building properties in floodplains in 2018-2021. They issued approvals for investment implementation in 90% of cases. Next.gazeta.pl journalist Kacper Kolibabski wrote more on this subject in the article below:
Hydrologist points to problem with building permits. “It contributed to so many misfortunes”
Prof. Stanisław Chmiel, head of the Department of Hydrology and Climatology at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, said in an interview with Polish Press Agencythat the priority in order to mitigate the effects of potential floods should be to limit development in flood areas. He pointed out that the maps indicating them still lack areas of smaller rivers and their tributaries and seasonal streams.
– That's where we're dealing with issuing new building permits. As the current situation has shown, it was small streams that became large, rushing rivers, and that's what contributed to so many misfortunes – the hydrologist noted. He also pointed out that although these are “very difficult decisions for people living in such areas”, a discussion should begin on the proposal to resettle people living in floodplains.