County chief officer says the Telemark Canal could be closed down

Telemarkskanalen.Photo : Per Erik Knive / SACANPIX (PRB)

Chief officer of Telemark county, Evy-Anni Evensen,  thinks a shutdown of Telemarkskanalen has to be considered if the government does not contribute money.

The Chief officer of the county  will on Thursday give an account of the economic situation of the historic canal between Skien and Dalen in Telemark.

– It is a difficult economic situation, we do not have  enough funding in terms of how much is needed,  Evensen says to news NRK.

She believes that the entire operation is in jeopardy and wants a new round of negotiations with the state.

The state held the responsibility for the canal for a long time, but ahead of the 100th anniversary of the canal in 1992 the county became the new owner .

Two reports on the canal conclude that  about 60 million kroner is needed for maintenance over the next seven years.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today