A canal to the rescue?

Water for Lake Neusiedl: Lower Austria sets conditions

Lower Austria and Burgenland are negotiating for the Danube water so that Lake Neusiedl is not left high and dry.(Bild: Peter Krivograd)

A canal is to be built from the Danube to Burgenland in order to prevent horror images of a desert of dust in place of the lake in the future. Lower Austria, however, has an important say in the matter - and is now imposing its first conditions. The "Krone" is familiar with the ambitious plans.

First things first: the water level of Lake Neusiedl, which fell to an alarming low last year, has recovered this year. However: "We can't just sit back now. There will be drier years again," says Burgenland's Governor Hans Peter Doskozil. But where will there be enough water in the lake if the worst comes to the worst?