Jēkabpils, Latvia — A sigh of collective relief, tinged with a dash of skepticism, swept through the riverside city of Jēkabpils on Tuesday as it celebrated the completion of the Daugava River protective dam’s reconstruction. Marking the city’s most expensive construction project ever at nearly 17 million euros, the revamped barrier stands as a symbol of hope against future floods—a poignant memory for residents after the devastating events of less than three years ago.
However, the grand unveiling, strategically timed with Latvia’s Lāčplēsis Day, which honors the nation’s heroes, comes under the shadow of an ongoing investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) into potential irregularities concerning the dam’s procurement and material quality.
A City Scarred by Water, Reborn in Concrete
The urgency for a robust flood defense became tragically clear in January 2023. Back then, the Daugava River, swollen with ice and water, unleashed its fury, causing the old, inadequate embankment to crumble. Hundreds of local volunteers and emergency responders toiled day and night, their grit and determination the only thing standing between the raging waters and the heart of Jēkabpils.
“We saw – the Daugava was right outside our window. It was terrible,” recalled Deniss, a local resident, the memory still fresh. “Will the dam protect us now? We hope, well, we hope. I don’t know how conscientiously they have done their work.”
The two-year, nearly 17 million euro project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the state, and the municipality, represents a monumental effort to fortify the city. Jēkabpils Mayor Raivis Ragainis of the Latvian Green Party underscored the transformation.
“If the dam saved us in 2023, now we have saved the dam,” Ragainis stated. “This is no longer an embankment that protected from ice, but a real dam.”
The reconstruction involved significant strengthening, the installation of advanced anti-flood systems, and extensive landscaping, transforming the once-vulnerable riverbank into a recreational area.
Engineering Resilience: Beneath the Surface
The new dam is a marvel of modern engineering, designed to offer unprecedented protection. Jānis Dimants, construction manager for SIA “Jēkabpils PMK,” detailed the complex multi-layered structure.
“Under the surface, there’s approximately one meter of non-filtering soil, geotextile, and a bentonite mat, which expands upon contact with water, forming a crucial screen that retains water,” Dimants explained. “This was definitely the most complex object in my, perhaps even the company’s, history.”
The project employed a dedicated workforce of 70 to 100 people daily, whose sweat and determination literally built the new barrier. “I poured all the concrete there. Climbing up these slopes wasn’t easy, but we did it, and now it’s pleasant to walk,” shared Josifs, one of the dam’s builders, expressing a profound sense of pride in his contribution.
A Shadow of Suspicion: The Ongoing Investigation
Despite the triumph of engineering and community resilience, the dam project remains under scrutiny. In April, the EPPO launched criminal procedural actions following suspicions of irregularities in the construction procurement process and concerns regarding the quality of building materials used.
While the EPPO has declined to offer further comments, citing the ongoing pre-trial investigation, both the builder and local officials maintain their innocence. The construction company stated that no additional documents have been requested since spring, suggesting cooperation with the probe.
Kārlis Stars, Deputy Chairman of the Jēkabpils Regional Council and a member of the National Alliance, emphasized that internal and external checks have so far revealed no discrepancies. “This year, we have had inspections, including a check by the Ministry of Finance,” Stars noted. “When we submit our reports, officials from the Central Finance and Contracting Agency will also visit for inspection.”
The dam, now the most expensive single project in Jēkabpils’ history, stands as a testament to the city’s commitment to protecting its future. Yet, its full story—one of both monumental achievement and lingering questions—awaits the outcome of the European Public Prosecutor’s diligent investigation, a crucial step in ensuring public trust and accountability in large-scale infrastructure projects across the continent.
