The banks and the bed of the Terramaistus river are clogged with reeds . On the SS196 road that connects Guspini with Gonnosfanadiga the river has become practically invisible , the reeds have exceeded the height of the bridge that crosses the watercourse. A similar situation in the 'sa pompa' area.
Regional and municipal regulations regarding the cleaning of hedges and land have been strictly applied to private landowners while those who have the task and burden of managing state-owned places such as the Terramaistus watercourse have not proceeded to do any cleaning.
The watercourse that comes from Linas, crossing the municipal areas of Gonnosfanadiga, Guspini, Pabillonis to flow into the sea crossing the San Giovanni pond is threatening the risk of a "dam effect" with consequent overflowing in the event of an increase in the water flow due to rain.
Current regulations prevent private individuals from cutting and cleaning the shrub; the canes can be cut with the authorization of the Forestry Corps.
Albino Ribero in his home in the town of San Giorgio next to the river comments: « The river is not clean and can cause damage , those in charge do not take care of it. A few days ago I had to move my horses, and to avoid crossing the asphalt road in the middle of the traffic I took a historic road, but in one point I could not pass because it was completely blocked by reeds. The regional body leaves its property unattended, instead private individuals must keep the banks clean otherwise they are fined».
Barbara Tuveri , 80 years old: «My land has bordered the river for years now and even though I have direct access I can't open a gate that leads to the public area». «In 2014 there was a big fire because of the reeds - adds Tuveri - it had caused serious damage. On my property it had burned the bark of tall eucalyptus trees, it was of no use. The land and the riverbed are not cleaned . Until a few years ago next to the river there was a clearing where you could spend time in the open air and swim, today the reeds have submerged everything».
Gianni Pusceddu : «My land is next to Villa Viola and the municipality, for some years, has informed us that the roads that lead to our properties are local roads and therefore we, the landowners, must take care of clearing them of brambles and reeds ».
Dauro Marongiu , 66, former prison guard: «The Terramaistus river has been in a state of complete abandonment for years now. The reeds and vegetation obstruct the normal flow of the river, there are places where trees have fallen and debris carried by the water ends up forming a sort of dam with imaginable consequences in the event of heavy rainfall . Reports have been made more than once but there is a tendency to pass the buck in the matter of competences».
