Organizations working on river sanitation Ozama and Isabela They demanded from the Ministry of the Environment compliance with decree 360-21, which declares the sanitation of both flows to be a high priority.
The Block of Community and Social Organizations Ozama Isabela (blocozai), who drives Francisco Reyesasked the Minister of the Environment, Miguel Ceara Hatton, to convene the cabinet that replaced the commission for cleaning up the rivers, so that they can work on the rescue issue.
He explained that in the current government nothing has been done about the situation, although he acknowledged that the late Orlando Jorge Mera was visiting the rivers, but that it seems he was more busy with issues such as protected areas.
He said that one of the aspects that must be taken into account is the exclusion from the cabinet of the community groups and organizations that have been working for years to clean up the Ozama and Isabela rivers.
“The intention of President Luis Abinader to issue this decree 360-21 is to provide a comprehensive solution to the contamination of these two important rivers and the conditions in which they are at this time is extremely deplorable,” Reyes said.
Free Journal traveled part of the river, in the vicinity of Zurzaand verified the presence of sebum substances in the waters of the Isabela, which the residents attribute to the chemicals released by the companies installed in the upper part through the sewage system.
At the mouth of what was previously called “La Cañada del Diablo”, today “Cañada de Dios”, industrial waste can be seen, accumulated at the outlet and a few meters from the pumping station of the system that collects sanitary water from neighborhoods in the National District.
In this place, in addition to the greasy substance and stagnant plastic, there were four bags full of rotten chicken entrails, whose stench filled the entire environment.
A short distance away, families who live on the banks of the river claim their relocation.
The Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewer Corporation (CAASD) is already working on preparing the land to build buildings and allegedly relocate 70 familiesbut according to Reyes, they would not be for the families who have been waiting for years to be relocated.
