Page Seven Digital
The Government of Santa Cruz, through a statement, reported today that it will not grant the environmental license to the clandestine Mennonite bridge built over the Parapetí River. The statement comes after the Ministry of Public Works suggested legalizing the work at the request of the residents of the area.
“The Government of Santa Cruz will not grant an environmental license to a construction that has been carried out illegally and clandestinely, and that causes environmental damage to an essential wetland, among other things, for cushioning floods and the water supply system to the department,” the statement said.
Jhonny Rojas, Secretary of Sustainable Development and the Environment, described as irresponsible the assertions made by the Minister of Public Works, Edgar Montaño, when requesting the legalization of the illegal metal bridge.
You can also read: The Sernap knew about the construction of the metal bridge since 2021
For the Government, the Ministry of Public Works intends to follow the same illegal act of the Forest and Land Authority (ABT) and the National Service of Protected Areas (Sernap), dependent on the Government, which initially had knowledge of the illegal construction and the deforestation generated by the opening of a road 14 kilometers long and 25 meters wide in the Izozog Ramsar site, despite this, the clandestine work was not stopped.
“The Secretary of the Environment notified the ABT on February 4, but so far we have not received a response, (we are) waiting for information from them. In the same way, we notified the Honorable Mayor’s Office of Charagua Iyambae requesting information about the bridge, we have not received an answer. We have also notified representatives of the Mennonites on February 7 requesting the necessary information, and we have not received a response,” said Rojas.
He reported that a delegation from the Government held meetings with different technicians to audit this construction and in the coming days a technical and legal report on the subject will be presented.
Yesterday, Minister Montaño, during his visit to the Cuarirenda captaincy and after inspecting the illegal bridge, questioned the governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho, for said work that does not have an environmental license. He pointed out that a trial against Camacho should be activated for not granting that license.
