Free way to a 'mascletà' that will not end when the gunpowder explodes: "It has to be a party, even if some seek confrontation"

Carlos Guisasola Madrid

Madrid

Updated Saturday, February 17, 2024-00:42

• City Council The secrets of the controversial 'mascletà' of Almeida: more gunpowder (307 kilos) and less noise than in Valencia

It is likely that the echo of the mascletà will continue to resonate for some time within the walls of the capital. Yesterday, the Contentious-Administrative Court number 8 of Madrid ruled that it was impossible for it to be provisionally suspended, as claimed by the animal protection association Salvando Peludos, for "not having exhausted the prior administrative route." That is to say, the pyrotechnic event will take place tomorrow (1:00 p.m.), as planned, at the Puente del Rey. And, also, that the opposition, after a judicial ruling that they accept, but that does not convince them, will continue to cling to an issue that, with permission from the fights in the plenary sessions of the Cibeles Palace, is the most hackneyed municipally speaking in the awakening of this 2024.

Minutes before 3:00 p.m., the judicial resolution raised its voice: «It is impossible to consider, not even an

active favor

, that such a request implies the exhaustion of the prior administrative route by the appellant Entity, which inevitably leads to the inadmissibility of the interested precautionary measures. Following the documents delivered by the City Council, which had received authorization from the Government Delegation in Madrid in the morning, the ruling did not delve into environmental or acoustic aspects, but rather into procedures.

Even so, the City Council had attached a variety of documents accrediting the administrative and security procedures that have been followed in the organization and development of

mascletàs

events in other areas of the national territory, with high and qualified environmental protection, such as, for example, the La Albufera natural park, in Valencia.

An invoice of 45,980 euros

Regarding the acoustic effect, Cibeles argued that it had authorization from the General Director of Sustainability and Environmental Control "to exceed the limits of the established sound levels, due to the use of amplification and sound reproduction equipment during the Mascletà event. Valencian 2024 » An act that, by the way, as reflected in the Public Sector Contracting Platform, will mean 45,980 euros to the municipal coffers. The contract, worth 38,000 euros (plus 21% VAT) was awarded to the company Pirotecnia Valenciana SL, with which GRAN MADRID spoke last Wednesday to find out some of the details of the show next to the Manzanares.

The gunpowder that will travel early Sunday morning to Madrid.EM

«We respect the judicial decision, but we do not share it. "We still do not know the complete file and the permits, if there are any," lamented

Rita Maestre

, leader of the opposition, with no intention of attending tomorrow's meeting. Just like

Reyes Maroto

, who announced her presence at the protest against the

mascletà

called for this noon (12:00 p.m.) in front of the Cibeles Palace. It seems evident that the noise will not stop with the last detonation of gunpowder in the area of ​​Madrid Río.

However, there will be an exodus from Valencia to the capital. There are chartered buses and purchased AVE tickets. There will also be Madrid residents who come to the Puente del Rey to enjoy and others, logically, who come to protest. "It has to be a party of meeting and recognition between Madrid and Valencia, although some seek confrontation, saying that it is simply a mountain of firecrackers," said Almeida yesterday, who will finally be able to fulfill his promise after a politically hectic week. because of those 307 kilos of gunpowder.

Mobility and safety devices

In one way or another, there will be movement in the surroundings of the

mascletà

. Hence, the City Council has designed a mobility plan. Between 12:00 and 1:30 p.m., up to eight branches of the M-30 near the esplanade will remain closed. The connections between the M-30 and the A-5 will be closed to traffic, except for northbound movement. It will also not be possible to access the Segovia Bridge, the Virgen del Puerto promenade and the San Vicente roundabout by vehicle.

As for the security device, it will have 23 firefighters, three forestry pumps and two command vehicles. Also with 21 toilets, 35 more officers on the M-30 and 160 officers from the

Municipal Police

.

The winding story of the

mascletà

approaches its explosive outcome. Almost a year after she lit the fuse in a booth in Valencia, on the electoral route. Whatever happens on Sunday, she is already part of Almeida's anecdote.