Cutting into nature: Resistance to clearing for eastern bypass grows

Cutting into nature: Resistance to clearing for eastern bypass grows

In Lichtenwörth, conflicts between the police and activists of the "Reason instead of eastern bypass" took place early. The occasion was the continued evacuation of a protest tree that had been built against the controversial construction of the eastern bypass. The police started evacuation around 6 a.m., while in the meantime numerous protesters tried to oppose the construction project. According to the country, nine older trees are already threatened by the planned construction work in the area of warm Fischa and the Fisha-Mühlbach.

The Lower Austria Straß service announced that all the necessary land for the traffic project was secured. "Preparations for this important infrastructure project are running according to plan. By 2027, all traffic infrastructure measures around Wiener Neustadt should be completed," said a spokesman.

activists show resistance

The protesting, including the organic farmer Hans Gribitz, express their outrage about the expropriations that are carried out on the basis of the project. "I am grateful for the people who are committed to protecting my fields and the riparian forest, which is supposed to give way to a senseless road project," said Gribitz and emphasized the importance of the riparian forest for the environment. Criticism also comes from Irene Nemeth from "reason instead of eastern bypass", which accuses the country and politics of naivety in terms of climate and environmental protection.

"This insensitive course will lead us to the next century of disaster-every euro that will be invested here should flow into a sustainable traffic concept instead," continues Nemeth.

environmental associations solidarize

Environmental organizations such as Attac and Greenpeace also express criticism of the project. Theresa Kofler from Attac emphasizes that the policy of the ÖVP-FPÖ state government puts the interests of the car and construction lobby about environmental protection. "It is destroyed more fertile and nature is at risk in a natura 2000 protected area." Melanie Ebner from Greenpeace warns that the effects of the climate crisis are becoming increasingly obvious, especially in the currently catastrophic flood conditions.

The disputes about the planned construction project podium -like national, regional and local pressure, while the state parliament discusses its uncertainties about the flood -damaged areas. "It is a low point in Lower Austrian environmental policy to choose this day for the evacuation of the camp," said Helga Krismer from the Greens Lower Austria.

Currently it remains to be seen how the situation will develop and how the political actors will react to the increasing resistance of the population and the environmentalist. For further information on the developments related to the Eastern bypass Wiener Neustadt, we refer to www.wn24.at .