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The National Protected Areas Service (Sernap) had known since 2021 about the construction of the metal bridge over the Parapetí River, in the Cuarirenda community, in the Charagua municipality, in Santa Cruz, and warned of consequences and lack of authorizations.
This is established in a document called “New bridge construction inspection report on the Parapetí River”, to which he had access Page Seven Digital and was sent by the head of protection of the Anmi Kaa Iya Chaco National Park to the director of that instance, Marcel Caballero.
The inspection was carried out on February 8, 2021 by two park rangers and “technicians from GAIOCH”, the Charagua Autonomous Native Indigenous Peasant Government, when the infrastructure pilings were found.
In addition, the mission detected the movement of machinery to build an embankment, a makeshift camp, and evidence of clearing.
You can also read: Metal bridge: Camacho says it is illegal, files a complaint and points to the Government
“It was found at coordinates X: 552076, Y: 7891762, an improvised camp, machinery and in the course of the Parapetí River, in the narrowest sector, there would be 4 supports installed with concrete and iron, presumably for the bases of the bridge”, it was found. read in the report.
“Towards the other side of the river, a clearing was observed on the easement of the river, as if to continue with the opening of the road towards the protected area.”
The Government of Santa Cruz declared the infrastructure illegal, dismissed the deputy governor of Cordillera and filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office.
The Sernap report states that the Community Captain of Cuarirenda, the authority of that region, reported that the Durango Mennonite colony bought that property and were in charge of opening roads and building the bridge.
One of the indigenous government officials pointed out in this context that he had no official knowledge of compliance with environmental and legal procedures.
Although the works were carried out outside the protected area, the park mission suggested “information be requested from the competent authorities regarding compliance with the procedures for the implementation of the project and the corresponding corrective actions be carried out.”
In the document, Salvatierra says that “it is very important to know if the project complies with environmental regulations since the area where the work is being carried out is an ecological easement zone” and is “extremely fragile as it is the Bañados del Río Isoso and have the international category of Ramsar Site”.
