Hearing of the Caselette Committee on the Dora Riparia flood-expansion basins
Date of the event:
On 5 November 2026 the Environment Committee of the Piedmont Regional Council, chaired by Sergio Bartoli, held a hearing with representatives of the spontaneous citizens' committee of Caselette, who oppose the project of the Agenzia interregionale per il fiume Po (Aipo, the Po river interregional agency) to build flood-expansion basins on the Dora Riparia in the territory of the municipality of Caselette and a neighbouring municipality [1][2].
The disputed project
The project, which originated after the 2000 flood, covers an area of around 300 hectares intended for controlled flooding. It involves the expropriation of around 20 hectares of cultivated farmland and has an estimated cost of 126 million euros [1][2].
In the municipality of Caselette the project involves straightening a significant stretch of the riverbed, affecting cultivated land and reducing ecosystems because of the artificial reinforcement of the banks. It also involves building a selective weir, described by the committee as large in size, intended to hold back material of various sizes, with no provision made for its removal and transport to disposal [1][2].
Positions expressed at the hearing
The spontaneous citizens' committee of Caselette was represented by Marco Devers, Laura Buso, Diego Casagrande and Ruben Borello, who set out the project's features and the concerns it raises [1][2].
Those heard stated that they were not entirely opposed to the project, but criticised the way Aipo had informed the public, having presented the project in only two afternoon meetings, which they considered insufficient to inform citizens and encourage participation. The committee asked for the design solutions, currently concentrated on a single part of the territory, to be reconsidered in favour of solutions that are less impactful, more spread out and easier to manage [1][2].
Regional councillors Alberto Unia (M5s), Gianna Pentenero (Pd) and Roberto Ravello (FdI) also spoke during the hearing to ask for clarifications [1][2].
Related articles: Caselette
Sources
- TorinoOggi — 5 November 2026
- L'Agenda News — 5 November 2026