The Governor of Guanajuato and the Mayor of Leon called on Federal Authorities for an urgent reunion to save the project that is half constructed
The Governor of Guanajuato and the Mayor of Leon called on Federal Authorities for an urgent reunion to save the project that is half constructed
The President of Mexico said that no water from the dam El Zapotillo will go to Leon in Guanajuato
Temacapulin/Gto News
Speaking to inhabitants from communities that will be affected by the construction of the dam El Zapotillo that is being built to supply of water the city of Guadalajara and Los Altos in Jalisco and to Leon in Guanajuato, the President of Mexico said that the citizens from the communities are the ones who will decide on the use and future of this construction.
A wall 25 meters shorter
“Because the dam was designed to have a wall of 105 meters in height and it would be left at 80 meters. And it was also designed to supply water to Jalico and the municipality of Leon, Guanajuato, it could not have that capacity to supply water, because the wall would be left at 80 meters, and besides the available volume of water would be less, it would not be enough to provide water for Leon, that clear, the water would only be for Jalisco, we would need to look for options for Leon”, said the President of Mexico.
The Mexican President insisted that the reason for a dialogue with the inhabitants of the communities that would be affected is because “I want to know definitely what we can do and in case they say no to the dam, I would only ask the inhabitants that we share the responsibility, if the dam is not finished there will be no water for Los Altos, nor for Jalisco and nor for Leon”, said the President of Mexico.
A unilateral decision
The Government of Guanajuato, expressed in a press reléase its regret for the unilateral decision of the Federal Government of not counting on the opinion of the Leones citizens, upon the decision of leaving Leon out of the project of the dam El Zapotillo.
That is the reason why the State Administration asked for a reunion with the Mexican President and Officials of CONAGUA (the federal regulator of water reservoirs), to study and analyze the social and economic implications that this decisions would cause for the families of Leon.
A work of years
Also, the State Administration, wants to show all the technical and investment process that has been done in the last years by the Government of Guanajuato, Jalisco, the Federal Government and the Local Government of Leon.
The Government of Guanajuato insists in its petition for a reunion with the Federal Government, to know the technical conditions that will be considered to suspend the construction and the supply of water for Leon.
Also, the State Government insisted on the need to analyze with Federal organisms the solutions to solve the need of water for the people of Leon, said the State Government in a press release.
Leon laments the decision
The Mayor of Leon said in an oficial press release that he laments on the decision announced by the President of Mexico of not supplying Leon of water from the dam El Zapotillo and that its water will be only for Jalisco.
“We regret the unilateral position by the Government of the Republic, because since this great project started, we worked in a coordinated effort by the governments of Jalisco and Guanajuato with the Government of the Republic through CONAGUA.
Hydrological stress
Water is fundamental for the sustainability of Leon, as we experience a deficit in liters and more than anything upon the hydrological stress that is suffered now by our supply sources.
We have done whatever is necessary, invested in infrastructure to take care and handle water but it is not enough.
We need the water from El Zapotillo to provide certainty to Leoneses who demand a fundamental right for life and today we are left out of this project.
The future of Leones families
We are urgently asking for a reunion with the General Director of CONAGUA because Leon is being affected.
We call on all Leoneses to express our need and demand our rights because this is the life, the sustainability and the future of Leones families”, said the Government of Leon in an oficial statement.
