Plans to build the first desalination plant in the eastern Mediterranean region of Valencia have revived the bitter water war between Spain's ruling PSOE socialists and the main opposition right-wing Popular Party. The environment ministry project to build the 60 Hm3/yr (cubic hectometre) plant in the beach resort of Torrevieja in Alicante province was published September 1 in the official state bulletin (BOE), and immediately attacked by the PP-controlled Torrevieja town council. "The city will rise up in arms if this is built," said local PP secretary general Domingo Soler. "Torrevieja will not sacrifice its beaches and its future to irrigate four lettuces that will in any case be worth nothing in the market place." PP-controlled Valencia and neighboring Murcia region to the south lead national opposition to central government's desalination-based Program AGUA water plan, that replaced the former PP government's Ebro water transfer which was scrapped when PSOE came to power 17 months ago.
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