Infrastructure and housing minister Andreas Carlson (KD) analyzes the possibility of advancing investments in the north.
On December 7, the government announced that all appeals for the Norrbotnia railway line between Dåva and Skellefteå had been rejected. The plan for the railroad thus became law. Åsa Karlsson's interpellation was written before this decision.
– The situation has changed since I wrote the interpellation, but it's still worth discussing, says Åsa Karlsson.
She brought up how long it took the government to provide information about the railroad plans and how many property owners were affected.
– It is unreasonable that individual property owners suffer financial losses because of the government's delay. It is unreasonable that affected communities could not plan because they did not have enough time, she says.
–I understand that the situation that has arisen could lead to difficulties. However, it is important that the administrative procedures we have for this type of matter also follow the existing routines, although it is of course a priority issue, responds infrastructure and housing minister Andreas Carlson (KD).
Karlsson emphasizes the importance of continuing the railway construction.
– We still have the Skellefteå-Luleå line, which also needs to be approved as soon as possible in view of the green industrial transition in northern Sweden. How long should the work on these railroad plans take?
– When it comes to Skellefteå-Luleå, we have asked Trafikverket (Swedish Transport Administration) to examine what can be done to speed up important infrastructure investments in the north. They have come back to the government with proposals for measures that can accelerate various necessary investments in the north. We have now received the proposal and are preparing and analyzing it, says Carlson.
Karlsson believes that the rejection of the appeals was not positive for everyone.
– The government's decision not to accept the Sami's request for wildlife crossings is incomprehensible to me. The coast will be completely cut off for reindeer herding. Building wildlife crossings is a relatively small cost in this context. We're talking about crossings that need to be used a few times a year in the winter and spring.
Carlson is brief in his reply:
– A comprehensive assessment has been made of the current administrative matter. I won't comment further.