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Central government declared yesterday that it cannot help finance the mobile desalination plants in Majorca installed by the Balearic government this summer contrary to the long term wishes of the Environment Minister Jaume Matas, who is prepared to help finance the construction of four permanent desalination plants. Central government maintains that the mobile units are not “general interest” developments, but socialist Balearic MP Teresa Riera, criticised Madrid's decision yesterday claiming that all issues concerning water are in the interests of the general public and matters of state. But central government maintains that it made its offer to the Balearic government, but it was rejected in favour of the mobile plants which have only benefitted the main tourist resorts and has forced the water rates up in Palma as the city council tried to raise the extra funds to pay for the set amount of water the EMAYA water board has to purchase every year from the mobile units. Madrid says that the mobile units do not meet the required needs of consumers and as a result are not prepared to help finance the operation.