Italy to appoint drought special commissioner

Rome: Italy’s government has said it would appoint a special commissioner to address the effect of a drought crisis, along with a task force made up of leading officials from various ministries.

Dry winter weather has stoked concerns that the country could face a second drought after a state of emergency was declared last summer for the highly productive northern agricultural areas surrounding the Po river.

Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini said in a statement that the Cabinet had approved a decree stipulating that the drought commissioner would take charge of all measures needed to tackle the drought problem.

The commissioner, whose mandate will expire at the end of December but can be extended for an extra year, will coordinate efforts to reduce water consumption across the country and maintain and improve water infrastructures, Salvini said.