The government intends to increase the penalties for perpetrators of forest fires. Nello Musumeci, Minister for Civil Protection and Marine Policies, recalls this, emphasizing the provisions of the draft decree law being examined by the Council of Ministers which amends article 423 bis of the penal code.
«Increased from four to six years the statutory minimum for those who cause a fire in “woods, woods or forests or on forest nurseries intended for reforestation, their own or others” – declares Musumeci -. If the fire is culpable, the minimum penalty increases from one to two years of imprisonment. Finally, the draft provides that the penalty "is increased by one third to one half when the fact is committed in order to gain profit for oneself or for others or with abuse of powers or with violation of duties inherent in the execution of tasks or in the performance of services in the field of prevention and active fight against forest fires".
The change, the minister acknowledges, "is not the solution to the serious problem: but the harsher punishment and its effectiveness will serve to discourage those who have gotten away with it so far. Also because, as is known, the majority of fires have an intentional nature or are linked to lack of prevention, therefore due to negligence».
And on today's situation in Sardinia he added in a note: «We are working with great commitment to contain the fires that flare up even with the complicity of the strong wind. The situation in the Nuoro area is particularly difficult, where Canadairs also arrived from Ciampino and Trapani. In the Municipality of Posada some evacuations of inhabitants are being carried out as a precaution. Hundreds of firefighters, civil protection volunteers and forestry units are on site. The situation is monitored by our Civil Protection centre. I assured the president of the Region Cristian Solinas the maximum attention of the national government".
(Unioneonline/ss)
