The Chamber of Architects criticizes the preparation of the Danube-Oder-Elbe canal

Prague - The Czech Chamber of Architects considers the plan to build the Danube-Oder-Elbe corridor a dead child of the past. The resolution to begin preparations for this extensive project was adopted by the Czech government on October 5th. Architects deem it unacceptable for the Czech government to discuss and approve steps leading to the realization of the Danube-Oder-Elbe corridor or its first part without adequate societal and professional discussion. The Chamber stated this in a press release today.

"We not only considered this plan a dead child of the past, much like the regulation of river flows, the command of wind and rain, and other megalomaniac projects of totalitarian regimes. If it weren't for the persistent efforts of the current president, this idea would remain forever buried in archives," wrote the chairman of the chamber, Jan Kasl.

The first stage of the canal construction is expected to cost around 15 billion crowns. The state is primarily focusing on connecting the Danube with the Oder during the project's analysis, while the Elbe remains on standby. The construction of the corridor could begin after the year 2030. The section is intended to start on the Oder in the Ostrava area of Svinov and continue to the Polish border. Here it should connect to the Polish section leading to the city of Koźle. Other Czech experts have criticized the project in recent days.

"The increasingly underused water transport is not an argument for its realization, let alone the water management aspects or cloaking it under adaptation to climate change and the interests of landscape and nature protection. Especially now, during a deep economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus, with a half-trillion deficit in the state budget this year and likely next year as well," argues the Chamber of Architects. According to them, it is also very likely that future governments will stop the project preparation as uneconomical, thus wasting hundreds of millions of crowns from public funds on unnecessary preparatory work.

The professional public, most recently in a statement by professional societies and academic institutions, stated in early October that this is a project that would have a significant negative impact on the hydrological regime of the landscape and would fundamentally harm the environment. The Senate last June requested that the government's decision be preceded by an independent review conducted by impartial foreign experts.

The Czech Chamber of Architects, which also includes urban planners and landscape architects, warns that watercourses and their surroundings are among the most endangered and severely damaged types of environments, while the area planned for the corridor contains biologically extremely valuable territories that are among Europe’s significant sites. According to the Chamber, the Danube-Oder-Elbe corridor would occupy thousands of hectares of land and destroy these areas.