Residents North Groningen to court over value drop homes

Some one hundred and fifty residents of northern Groningen are taking the Dutch Petroleum Maatschappij ( NAM )to court over the value drop of their home, reported the NOS Wednesday.The people , united in WAG Foundation, demand compensation for the value decrease their homes have suffered from natural gas winning in the area. The gas winning regularly cause mild earthquakes in North Groningen, and homes are more difficult to sell. WAG wants the court to hold the government or the NAM liable for this damage. After that, the individual cases will be presented to the court. The case is expected to start in 2014.

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Earlier today , a survey of the National Office of Cultural Heritage ( RCE ) revealed that 69 of the approximately one hundred national monuments in the province were damaged by the gas winning activities of the NAM.

According to the civil service damages have been detected in 34 monumental churches, as well as in homes, farms, mills, and the old town hall of Appingedam.