Sarno, Rio Sguazzatoio, the river choked by mud: "Enough inaction, immediate cleanup is needed."

Dark mud, foul odors, and a streambed that, according to reports from residents and committees, has shrunk to just a few centimeters. This is the scene documented at the Rio Sguazzatoio, in the Angri area, during an inspection by the Green and Left Alliance MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli and activist Fabio Armano.

The initiative is part of a series of field inspections along the waterways that flow into the Sarno River, launched to directly assess the environmental conditions of the tributaries and collect reports from the local area.

Borrelli and Armano were accompanied by committees and citizens, who have long been denouncing the critical issues of the waterway.

A citizen enters the water

Making the situation even more evident was the gesture of a citizen who dipped his feet into the Rio Sguazzatoio to demonstrate the consistency of the mud on the seabed.

A dark, foul-smelling mass that, according to the complaint, covers much of the riverbed, compromising its functionality. This situation fuels concerns about the environmental and hydraulic conditions of the entire Sarno basin.

A few steps from the waterway, a Campania Region sign appears announcing a cleanup project. This detail makes the demand for information on the timing and details of the work even more pressing.

Borrelli: "It looks like an open-air landfill."

"It's a surreal scene," denounces Francesco Emilio Borrelli. "We're talking about a waterway included in the Sarno basin redevelopment programs and which should be the subject of major interventions, but what we see today is degradation, waste, and abandonment. It looks like an open-air landfill."

The parliamentarian points the finger at what he calls years of announcements and still insufficient interventions: "For years, there has been talk of reclaiming the Sarno and its tributaries, interventions have been announced and resources have been spent, but meanwhile the area continues to be devastated."

"We want to know when the work will start."

The request now is for clarity on the planned interventions and the resources allocated for the redevelopment.

"We want to know when the work will begin, how it will be carried out, and above all what results it will produce," says Borrelli, noting that the Rio Sguazzatoio has long been affected by both environmental and hydraulic problems.

According to the MP, regional documentation also highlighted historical problems related to the quality of the sediment and the functionality of the basin's waterways.

The battle on the Sarno continues

The Angri inspection, therefore, is not destined to remain an isolated incident. Borrelli has announced further inspections along the Sarno and its tributaries, together with committees and environmentalists.

"We will continue to travel the Sarno and all its tributaries," he concludes, "documenting any suspicious situations and reporting what we find to the relevant authorities."

And the final message is clear: "The Sarno River cannot be a landfill or a bottomless pit for public funding. We want transparency, oversight, and accountability. Those charged with protecting these waterways must do their duty fully."