July 24, 2023, 7:07 PM
July 24, 2023, 7:07 PM
According to a publication made by the Bolivian Information Agency, social organizations, carriers, trade unionists and producers from San Julián and Chiquitania gave the Government of Santa Cruz a period of 48 hours to guarantee its counterpart of 30% to build the Okinawa – Los Troncos road section.
Demanding the construction of this stretch of road, is that since the early hours of this Monday, July 24, The transport sector initiated a series of blockades in different parts of the department of Santa Cruz as a protest measure.
The points have been installed in San Julián, Cuatro Cañadas, Los Troncos, Okinawa, the Banegas bridge, the Valle Chico community and even, in the municipality of Ascensión de Guarayos.
In other words, the road to the north and Beni is closed. The carriers ensure that the measure is indefinite and no intermediate quarters will be given.
For his part, the Minister of Public Works, Services and Housing, Édgar Montaño, reported that a meeting was held on Sunday with social sectors of San Julián, Chiquitania and authorities of the Santa Cruz government about that highway project.
“Given the need for this important highway, our brothers resolved that the Santa Cruz Governorate has a maximum period of 48 hours to present an act that guarantees the local counterpart of 30% for the construction of the Okinawa – Los Troncos highway”, indicated the government authority.
On its side, from the Governorate of Santa Cruz, the central government was held responsible for the road blockade carried out by the carriers. They indicated that this conflict is the responsibility of the Minister of Public Works, Édgar Montaño, who rejected the proposed counterpart of 20%.
Édgar Landívar, Secretary of Economic Development, reported that on Sunday, July 23, he participated in an enlargement held in the municipality of San Julián and that It was attended by Minister Montaño and representatives of various sectors, in which the Government was required to provide a counterpart of 30% and not 20%.
“Unfortunately, in a dictatorial way they demand that we can participate with 30%, the impossibility at this time of the 30% issue was explained. However, We told him that we are willing to sit at technical tables, which should be emphasized hUntil today the Bolivian Highway Administrator (ABC) has not been able to show us where the percentage of 30% comes from of participation of the Government”, he indicated.
However, Montaño regretted the lack of seriousness of the officials of the Santa Cruz Governorate in the construction of the Okinawa – Los Troncos highway. by “presenting various pretexts to not guarantee their local counterpart”.
“The arguments for the officials of the Government of Santa Cruz have run out, because their lack of seriousness was reflected once again when they fled from the meeting we had in San Julián because of the construction of the highway”, said the minister.
He affirmed that the Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing ratifies the construction of this road because it is a priority for the Government.
The construction of this road section will require an approximate cost of more than $71 million, of which $50 million (70%) will be covered by the national government and $21 million (30%) must be financed by the Government of Santa Cruz.
The highway project has a length of 33 kilometers (Km) with rigid pavement, a toll station and weighing control.
