The Minister of Culture and Sports, Patricia del Pozo, has stated that the Junta is studying «very carefully and rigorously» the project of photovoltaic installations in the Fargue area, in Granada, regarding the potential impact on the heritage or landscape of the Alhambra and Generalife.
During the Culture and Sports commission of the Andalusian Parliament and in response to a question from the PSOE, Del Pozo detailed that the cadastral plot where these installations are intended to be built is in the «proximity of the Fargue nucleus» at an average distance of «about three kilometers» from the surface declared a Cultural Interest Site (BIC) and the protected area of the Alhambra, a World Heritage Site, and therefore of «absolutely exceptional» value.
«Its protection and conservation are an absolute priority for the Ministry, as well as for the Board of the Alhambra and Generalife,» Del Pozo indicated, convinced that it will also be a priority for «other administrations with competencies in the processing of this project.»
Although «it is not located within the territorial scope listed as World Heritage, nor in the BIC surface» and therefore «in principle, the parcel in question does not have any heritage protection regime itself,» Culture will promote the inclusion of «the corresponding reports that will delimit the situation» during the administrative procedure from a commitment to heritage protection and «respect for the landscape.»
These last two issues, according to the Minister, must be taken «very much into account in this type of projects,» so the Junta will «act with the utmost diligence» and «responsibility» to implement the «appropriate measures» against any element that «could even endanger the exceptional and universal value» of the Alhambra.
The Andalusian parliamentarian of the PSOE, Gerardo Sánchez, asked in his question to the Minister if the Junta is preparing «any type of measure» to stop this «outrage with a very high cost for the heritage of Granada and the Alhambra» based on a project, he detailed, with 10,000 solar panels on an area of 30,000 square meters.
Sánchez highlighted the visual impact it could have on the Alhambra and Generalife, as would not happen in any monument environment in Europe such as the Colosseum in Rome, the Acropolis of Athens, or the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
«If we do not remedy it, that is what will happen in Granada» with a photovoltaic plant project that he pointed out would be located «a hundred meters» from occupied homes and that is «against» «all public opinion in Granada.»
«NEVER AT THE EXPENSE OF HERITAGE»
In that context, Culture «can and must intervene,» Sánchez detailed, clarifying that the Socialist Parliamentary Group does not oppose renewables and is in favor «of the energy transition, but it cannot be done at the expense of a historical landscape like the one seen from the Alhambra.» «Never at the expense of Granada’s heritage,» he emphasized.
«Unfortunately, the director of the Alhambra is not involved in this important debate taking place in Granada» and «is more focused on his travels» or «the three euro increase in the entrance fee» to the monument, the PSOE parliamentarian indicated in reference to Rodrigo Ruiz-Jiménez.
«The last thing I ask of you is to act, because you can and should provide unfavorable information on any initiative that goes against the conservation and visual integrity» of the Alhambra’s surroundings, Sánchez told the Minister.
