The recent suspension of a hydraulic project by the Dzemul City Council was received as a genuine relief by the residents of Xtampú, especially for the 64 families who depend on artisanal salt production.
The risk was high for the members of the salt cooperative: if the freshwater were to mix with the salt water from the ponds, production would have been lost. José Chi Aké, the cooperative’s secretary, expressed his relief at the measure.
“Our salt ponds were in danger; we tried to protect this. The people are grateful,” he said. “With this decision, the artisans feel more at ease, especially now that we are in the middle of the harvest season,” he added.
The residents of Xtampú had previously expressed their concern, denouncing that the project was moving forward without consultation and without respect for their way of life. Salt production in this area not only represents an economic source of income but also a cultural legacy passed down from generation to generation.
He stated that artisan families are now more at ease with the suspension of the project, as salt production, which is harvested during this hot season, is more secure.
It should be noted that the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) ordered the immediate halt of the work after confirming that the project was being carried out without an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), violating the General Law on Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection.
The intervention, part of a potable water system rehabilitation project, involved excavation, pipe installation, and vegetation removal in an area of mangroves and salt marshes.
With this resolution, PROFEPA also announced that a financial penalty will be imposed on the Dzemul City Council, responsible for initiating the work without the necessary environmental permits.
This measure sets an important precedent in the defense of Yucatán’s natural and cultural heritage and strengthens the struggle of communities seeking to preserve their surroundings and traditions in the face of unplanned and unrespectful construction projects.
TYT Newsroom
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