Activists representing the Network of Environmental groups from Zihuatanejo asked concrete requests to the Latin American Water Tribunal members to put into action against the pollution of that Mexican bay.

Erika Serrano and Luis Arturo Macias asked to issue orders to cancel the tourist project ‘Proyecto mío’ launched by the Real Estate agency Punta del Mar, to stop dumping waste and polluted water to the lake Las Salinas and the formation of a civil commission to take steps aimed at the cleaning of the bay.

They asked to recommend to the Federal government the opening of legal procedures to prosecute officials and investors who authorize, agree and execute works that cause damages to the bay ecology.

Environmentalists added that there must be an economic compensation for the harmed population and more official protection for fishermen.

The Water Tribunal jury inquired for more information regarding the petitions, some practical ways to put them into action by the civil commission once formed and ideas about the approach to the government officials involved.

Serrano answered some of the jury questions asserting that despite their efforts, the official response was always that the quality of water at Zihuatanejo bay is in the permitted safe standards as well as the pollutants are under control.

He explained that the new project called ‘Puerto Mio’ is moving forward into the sea gaining space at the same time that is damaging the natural foundation of the bay through construction works.

IN NEED OF CAPITAL

The jury reprimanded Sergio Legorreta from the Potable water and Sewer Commission when he admitted irregularities in the service given to the public in Zihuatanejo where 35% of the population doesn’t pay for the water supply, he said.

The county needs to invest around 150 millions of dollars to guarantee water supply to the whole population, to make efficient the water processing plants and to elaborate more investigation on pollution, he emphasized.

Legorreta said that solution may be the capital of private investors that’s why he expressed hope that the International Water Forum could be the perfect chance to picture the problem and to find help.

06/LG/GT