Di, Okt 31st 2023
The Swiss Landscape Conservation Foundation is fighting against the possible construction of a new ice grotto on the Rhone glacier. It also criticizes the condition with the fleece covers. It has turned to the Valais Building Commission to investigate the matter. The operator of the grotto rejects the accusations.
“We ask you immediately to stop the construction work on the new ice grotto and to arrange for the immediate removal of all fleece covers that are obviously contrary to the protection goals and harmful to the environment,” reads a letter to the Valais government and the cantonal building commission, which was distributed to the media on Monday.
In particular, the installation of new tarpaulins and the drilling of a new ice cave elsewhere on a secondary tongue of the glacier does not suit the Swiss Landscape Conservation Foundation. “We have no knowledge of any building application in this regard,” the foundation’s director, Raimund Rodewald, told the Keystone-SDA news agency. He called for an “immediate” halt to the work.
“The old grotto obviously collapsed and everything was left in place. What bothers me is that the operator takes all the liberties to do whatever he wants and exploit the place to the last drop,” Rodewald further responded. One should at least have an “ethical attitude” towards these glaciers that are dying mainly due to human activities, he added.
“Environmental requirements met”
The operator of the ice grotto, Philipp Carlen, rejects the accusations. The operators had complied with all previous staged environmental requirements issued by the Canton of Valais through the Department of the Environment in connection with fleece covers that were no longer needed, it says in a media release.
Among other things, the tarpaulins floating on ice floes were removed at great technical and financial expense and disposed of properly. Moreover, the operators of the ice grotto have been clearing away fleece sheets that are no longer needed for decades.
In addition, still existing fleece covers, which continue to serve the melt protection of the ice grotto, did not reach the glacial lake. Currently, there are no fleeces floating on the meltwater.
“No danger for nature and humans”
According to Carlen, the nonwovens used for the glacier covers are widely used for various applications, including water catchments. “According to the data sheets we have for the fleeces, they are harmless to nature and humans. We will continue to remove and properly dispose of all fleeces that are no longer needed,” the communiqué continues.
It is currently unclear whether the creation of a new ice grotto for the next summer season in 2024 will even be possible. A few weeks ago, an exploratory tunnel several meters long was cut into the glacier ice. The purpose of this tunnel is to prepare a corresponding geological-glaciological report.
According to Carlen, the grotto has been operated for around 200 years on the basis of private usage rights. With the fleece covers, the melting of the glacier ice can be significantly delayed.
Tarpaulin in glacial lake
In the summer of 2022, the Valais Office for the Environment intervened after part of the fleece tarpaulins had been severely damaged and were floating in the glacial lake. It ordered the operator to restore the plant to a condition that complies with the requirements of the Water Protection Act and the Environmental Protection Act.
“All tarpaulins floating in the lake were removed during the summer,” said Environmental Protection Agency Director Christine Genolet-Leubin when asked. Her team carried out several checks on the site.
The environmental authority intervenes when there is a danger to the water, Genolet-Leubin further explained. For the use of tarpaulins on a glacier, the building commission is responsible, he said. The latter could not be reached for comment.
©Keystone/SDA
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