Koen Schuiling, the mayor of Groningen, does not dare to predict when the earthquakes in Groningen will end. “Even if we stop all gas extraction today, no one knows how long it will take for the ground to settle again,” he says. An earthquake occurred in Zijldijk in Groningen last night. According to the KNMI, the earthquake had a magnitude of 2.1.
Schuiling rejects predictions that the earthquake damage will be resolved within a few years. ‘Keep dreaming, it will go on for a long time. Do not make promises you can not keep.’
A response from the government to the final report of the parliamentary commission of inquiry into gas extraction in Groningen is still awaited. Schuiling believes this response should also pay attention to what the earthquake damage did to the residents mentally. He also lacks solutions from the toilet. He wants “proper claims management” for the people of Groningen. “Not all legal process and no cross-working authority.”
Little trust
Even that government response needs to be understandable to everyone, says Schuiling. ‘It is very important that you, as an ordinary, inexperienced reader, understand what it will mean personally to that person. If the government can explain it, then I think we can achieve a lot.’
“My confidence in the government is now below 50%”
The Cabinet will probably give that answer in a few weeks. Until then, Schuiling has little faith in the government’s ability to properly handle complaints. That confidence is now below 50 percent. It really depends on how specific the cabinet is in its response.’
Not from the ground
The mayor fears the settlement won’t get off the ground any time soon, he says with a sigh. ‘We have also seen it in the management of the benefits affair. People get down to business with the best of intentions and then things happen again that make achievement impossible. We can no longer afford it here. It’s not just about safety, but also about the well-being of the people in our province.’
Schuiling believes that, in addition to dealing with complaints, the main thing to do is to restore trust among the people of Groningen, which includes himself. He also believes that this will not be possible within a few years. “It really takes a generation.”
Great shot
Several residents around the epicenter of last night’s earthquake told RTV Noord they felt the quake. A resident of the nearby village of ‘t Zand noticed “a loud thump,” another resident heard “two heavy thuds and a short, loud vibration,” he told the regional broadcaster.
The heaviest earthquakes in Groningen since 2006 had a magnitude between 3.1 and 3.6. Yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives debated the final report of the parliamentary commission of inquiry into gas extraction in Groningen.
In his report, he concluded that the security of Groningen residents has been subordinated to economic and financial interests for decades. According to the committee, the Netherlands owes “a debt of honour” to the residents of Groningen. Today the debate continues and the same committee has its say.
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
