Italy readies 7.8 billion euro package to tackle drought - newspaper

FILE PHOTO: A drone image shows San Biagio island, affected by drought in Lake Garda, near Lido di Manerba, Italy, February 21, 2023. REUTERS/Alex Fraser/File Photo

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy is preparing to approve a decree allocating 7.8 billion euros ($8.32 billion) to tackle a severe drought that is hitting the country, Rome's energy and environment minister was quoted as saying on Friday.

Weeks of dry winter weather have raised concerns that Italy could face another drought after the one last summer, with the Alps having received less than half of their normal snowfall, according to scientists and environmental groups.