The anti-establishment 5-Star
Movement (M5S) has requested that a meeting of Premier Paolo
Gentiloni's cabinet taking place Friday declares a state of
emergency in Rome due to drought, sources said.
Water utility ACEA has said it may have to introduce water
rationing in Rome after the Lazio region told it to stop taking
water from the nearby Lake Bracciano, the level of which has
fallen significantly due to the drought.
The request for a state of emergency was also the subject of
a letter sent by ACEA to the regional government and the
capital's prefect and forwarded to ministers, sources said.
Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi, a member of the M5S, has said the
rationing would be "unacceptable" and Health Minister Beatrice
Lorenzin has warned it could impact hygiene and health services.
The Vatican turned off its fountains earlier this week due to
the drought, which has affected most of the country.
Farmers' association Coldiretti has estimated that the
drought has cost Italian agriculture over two billion euros.
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