In Evijärvi, there was already time to rejoice at the Regional Administrative Authority’s decision in December to raise the water level. However, the Vaasa Administrative Court imposed a moratorium on the implementation of the decision.
The water level of Lake Evijärvi cannot be raised for the summer. The Vaasa Administrative Court has issued an injunction in the lake regulation case, immediately suspending any work already started by the EAR to raise the water level by ten centimetres.
The enforcement ban applies to the rationing and preparation permit issued by the Regional State Administrative Agency in December 2022. The decision was appealed by 17 persons.
The administrative court’s order is valid until the appeal on the merits has been finally decided. The Administrative Court will issue a separate decision on the appeal at a later date.
Immediate position from the Council
In the Evijärvi municipal council, it was demanded on Monday evening that the status of the lake should be immediately raised to the number one priority in the management of the municipality’s affairs.
The coalition’s council group submitted a council initiative on the lake’s situation, in which it was proposed to organize an extra council evening school with a quick schedule and to invite top experts to the place.
According to the council’s initiative, there was already a positive vibe developing the area in the locality, when the regional administrative agency decided to return the water level to the level it was before 2018.
– The renovation of the cabins and even the construction of new cabins were considered. The boaters, on the other hand, planned to buy a better boat and engine, when the risk of running aground seemed to decrease. Entrepreneurs already started to think about updating their order lists due to growing demand, the council initiative states.
Long dispute over water levels
In Evijärvi, the water level of the lake has been disputed for five years. Cabin dwellers and the tourism industry in particular want the water level to be raised. In turn, farmers whose lands are receding will suffer from the increase.
Those opposed to the raising of the water level have, among other things, demanded pumping stations and embankments in the areas where water rises to the fields due to the measures.
The appellants have also not been satisfied with the agreed compensations for the inconveniences.