Two mega-reservoirs located in the Vienne and Deux-Sèvres departments were vandalized during actions claimed by activists opposed to these water reserves intended for agricultural irrigation. The acts of sabotage, which occurred between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, were acknowledged in a statement released under the name "Association for the Permanent Uncovering of the Poitou Reservoir" and relayed by the Earth Uprisings movement.
The authors denounce infrastructure they consider a symbol of intensive agriculture and the "hoarding of water" for the benefit of a minority of farms. One of the targeted reservoirs reportedly belongs to a major agribusiness group specializing in egg production. The prefect of Deux-Sèvres condemned these "intolerable actions" and announced the opening of an investigation to identify those responsible.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the mega-reservoirs
The conflict surrounding mega-reservoirs remains particularly intense in the Poitou region since the clashes at Sainte-Soline, which have become emblematic of the battle over water sharing. Opponents accuse these giant reservoirs, filled by winter pumping from groundwater, of promoting an intensive agricultural model ill-suited to climate change.
Conversely, farmers who support the project defend these infrastructures as an essential solution for securing crops against repeated droughts. Despite several court rulings that have suspended or weakened certain projects, tensions remain high in the region, where demonstrations, acts of civil disobedience, and law enforcement operations have been increasing for several years.
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