Plans to the rock fall in the reality check

From 2030, the first people should be able to settle in Blaten again. For this purpose, the village center should be uncovered and new buildings are also being built. Federal Councilor Albert Rösti promises to help implement the desire of the valley population.

15 days after the spilling of Blatten, Mayor Matthias Bellwald presented on Thursday how the Hintere Lötschental should look like in the future: « We want a leaf for people – with a center as a habitat for young and old. »

And it is already being worked on. Until spring 2026, the hamlets are said to be connected to the electricity, water and sewage network again. Bellwald calls it the « pioneering phase ». This also includes that the village center exposed by blatts and the pent -up lake in the Lonza is emptied. To do this, the planning responsible for the planning wants to pour up dams and bring the watercourses of the Lonza and side waters into an orderly drain.

The “settlement phase” is even more ambitious, which should begin from 2027. This also includes using existing buildings in the spared hamlets. Matthias Bellwald says: «I am not a utopist. I have a vision that is feasible. It’s a lot of work, that’s for sure. » At the same time, the canton builds up the cantonal road to Blatten and its hamlets. The schedule stipulates that new buildings in the village center of Blatten will be built from 2028, including stables and hotels.

As early as 2030, the first people in the village center of Blatten should be able to settle. This is followed by an “expansion phase” in which new buildings can be created. Bellwald says it has to go forward quickly.

In fact, the first work is already in the corridor. For example on the rescue road to the Weiler Weissenried. Also for a reconstruction of the spilled cantonal road, together with the mobility office, you already have concrete ideas, says Bellwald: « I am very optimistic that we can go on the path chosen quickly. »

The ice is slowly melting

Nevertheless, many questions remain open – for example, for dealing with the hundreds of tons of glaciers and rubble, which destroyed the village. It will certainly take years to decades for the ice to melt in the rubble cone, Christian Huggel, climate researcher and geographer, told the “Valais messenger” ten days ago.

The deposits are not suitable for buildings. It is an even mixture of stone and ice for many years and therefore a landscape that shrinks and slips for years. The hope of simply removing the cone and transporting the rubble away is hardly realistic.

Economically, a depopulation of the mountain regions is also nonsensical. 55 percent of hydropower comes from the Alps. If nobody lives there anymore, the security of these systems will be weakened. A depopulation also leads to the migration of agriculture, the regions would no longer be maintained. Finally, tourism is no longer possible. After the accident in Blatten, according to Rösti, it is about showing the whole population of Switzerland: « Even if accidents happen, we give long -term perspectives. »

BUND provides immediate aid for the suspension of hardship cases

For some, it may seem that CHF 5 million in view of the estimated damage of up to one billion CHF is a very modest amount. However, it is only a matter of cushioning hardship cases or supporting urgent immediate measures by the community, explains Rösti.

The Federal Council therefore differentiates between short -term, medium -term and long -term measures for blatts. In the medium term, the federal government uses known instruments, for example to restore the protected protective forest. These were also used in the storms in Ticino, Graubünden and Valais. Rösti did not want to commit to a specific amount. To do this, you have to be able to go to the area first to evaluate how high the costs will be and what the federal government can compensate here.

Long -term support is also important. According to Rösti, the Federal Council has commissioned its department to show the community where any construction zones could be eliminated. « This is said to be able to rebuild blatings and quickly show the population a perspective. » The community and canton must create the structure plan. Ultimately, the federal government decides whether it can actually be built. Rösti wants to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in the way.