Saving Venice

a plan to use flood barriers to save Venice from flooding is likely to be abandoned because experts say it will harm the environment. The project was decided in the aftermath of the devastating floods in 1966 when the Venice lagoon's natural defences were badly breached by a storm surge.

The city's council had called for world experts to give their opinion on the project. The project was given a green signal by the experts in January last. Flood barriers were to be built at the three mouths of the lagoon. The project was then handed over to Edo Ronchi, Italy's environment minister, a leading member of country's Green Party. But Ronchi is strongly opposed to the project and he is certain to reject the project.