Mitholz: Federal Council approves commitment credit
At a meeting on November 16, 2022, the Federal Council approved a commitment credit for clearing the former ammunition depot in Mitholz. Approval was requested for 2.59 billion Swiss francs for comprehensive clearance of the ammunition residues.
The removal of residual ammunition from the former depot in Mitholz, Bern, is expected to cost the federal government CHF 2.59 billion. The Federal Council has now asked parliament to release the sum and is thus sticking to the goal of clearing the former ammunition depot in Mitholz. The challenges posed by the ammunition residues are not to be left to future generations.
Some protective measures are unavoidable
The purpose of the clearance project is to eliminate the risk of major incidents caused by the explosion of the large quantities of residual ammunition from the Second World War. A comprehensive clearance of the ammunition residues in the entire area affected by the explosion in 1947 is planned. In addition, a protective tunnel for the national road is to be built and measures taken to protect the infrastructure from natural hazards such as avalanches, floods, debris flows or rockfalls.
However, the residents in the safety perimeter will have to move away before the clearance work begins, and protective measures will have to be taken for the transport modes and for the roads and railroads. For one part of the population, this will already be the case from 2025. They will have to move out of the village for ten years. After the clearance, Mitholz can be resettled and the site could be used again.
Source: Federal Council/Editorial Office
