The counselor of Territorial Cohesion of the Government of Navarra, Óscar Chivite, has pointed out that the signing of the agreement for the bidding of the second phase of the Canal de Navarra "not only depends" on the regional government, given that "it is a project that largely depends on Miteco." In this sense, he has expressed his desire that "we can sign the agreement between Navarra and the State soon."
Chivite has intervened in the plenary session of the Parliament to respond to an oral question from UPN regarding the real situation of the second phase of the Canal de Navarra. He addressed the regionalist parliamentarian Miguel Bujanda to convey that "I understand that the deadlines for these works do not please you" and added: "Me neither," before recalling that "the main delay comes from UPN not continuing with the second phase in 2012, prioritizing the expansion of the first phase."
The counselor has explained that, "after years of delay and paralysis, in April 2025 we will complete the work and ensure that the farmers of Tierra Estella are now irrigating with water from Itoiz." He emphasized the magnitude of the action, as "we must be aware of the work we are talking about; 67 kilometers of double piping that crosses half of Navarra and two large reservoirs, with a projected cost of 374 million euros including VAT," and added that "there are more than 1,500 expropriation files with a cost exceeding 7 million euros."
Likewise, Chivite has stressed that "this must be done in coordination between both Administrations, State and Navarra, with technical, legal, and economic guarantees."
Processing of agreements and criticisms from UPN
In his intervention, the counselor has highlighted the "important milestones" achieved during this legislature regarding the second phase of the Canal de Navarra. He detailed that "now the agreements between Navarra and the State, the update of the direct management agreement Miteco-Acuaes, and the Miteco-Canasa agreement are being processed." In his opinion, "projects of this magnitude involve a dense processing and what I can assure you is that the work is constant and intense."
For his part, the UPN parliamentarian Miguel Bujanda has demanded "elementary answers on when the Navarra-State agreement will be signed and when the works will be tendered." He has recalled that "in September the minister placed the signing in October. We are in October and nothing is known about this," and has pointed out that "the elections will surely be used to explain new delays."
Bujanda has warned that "important decisions remain and explain them if they are going to be delayed or not, will the tender be in 2026 or not?" In his opinion, "if the Ministry delays, demand it. If it fails to comply, report it. What cannot be asked for is more patience, and moreover counting on rumors and lies," to conclude that "we are going to demand why it is being delayed so much."