Elbe dredging plan put on hold
Europe Online Magazine reports that earlier this week a German court ordered dredging work on the River Elbe to stop, SandandGravel reports.
The dredging was planned to expand the country‘s main seaport, Hamburg, but was stopped because of worries that the planned dredging would harm the environment.
Europe Online said expanding the port is key to Germany‘s trade efforts, but has encountered repeated legal challenges from environmental groups.
The injunction by a court in Leipzig halts the dredging while the court hears a case brought by two environmental groups.
The groups say opening up the channel along the 60km of the Elbe river between Hamburg and the open sea will make the water flow faster, reducing feeding space for fish.
Judges said allowing the work to proceed would create irreparable harm if the court finally rules that it breached conservation laws.
As Europe Online noted, Hamburg, which shipped 132.2 million tonnes of cargo in 2011, is the main access to the sea of both Germany and the Czech Republic as well as a key entry point for Asian exports to Europe.
