Members of the Sonora River Basin Committees (CCRS), made up of residents of eight municipalities affected by the worst environmental disaster in mining in 10 years caused by Grupo México, said that the statements by federal and state authorities to the effect that there has been progress in environmental and health justice plans, and in guaranteeing access to drinking water for residents of the region, “do not correspond to reality.”
In light of the information shared publicly by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) regarding the rehabilitation of six water treatment plants, the CCRS explained that they were partially built during the previous administration; one began operating in 2023, and the others at the beginning of 2024. However, they indicated that none of them has guaranteed effectiveness in separating heavy metals, and the authorities do not assume responsibility for permanently monitoring water quality.
Regarding the construction of four new plants, they stated that “in no municipality in the basin do we have information confirming their existence.”
In the case of information from Governor Alfonso Durazo, who assured that health care is provided, the inhabitants of the localities of Aconchi, Arizpe, Ures, Bacanuchi, among others, pointed out that to date “a concrete care plan” for the affected people has not been presented, with a work schedule agreed upon with the population.
They indicated that although the National Center for Preventive Programs and Disease Control (Cenaprece) performed analyses of heavy metals in blood and urine on part of the population, it subsequently “did not follow up on the problem and classified the study of Toxicological Approach to Human Health of the affected populations as reserved.”
They also accused the Sonora Health Department of “having used delaying practices” in the courts, arguing that it is carrying out vaccination campaigns as a measure to care for the population of the Sonora River.
Those affected by the spill of 40 million liters of toxic waste into the Sonora and Bacanuchi rivers in 2014, complained that while the Secretary of the Interior (SG), Luisa María Alcalde, has met with Grupo México, “she has not received us victims, despite the fact that we have requested it twice this year.”
Regarding the authorities’ statement regarding guaranteed access to drinking water for 24 communities, they pointed out that “there is no specific infrastructure or mechanisms” for this, despite the fact that both a Federal Judge and the CNDH have classified the need to take measures in this regard as urgent.
Given this situation, they demanded that the federal and Sonoran governments, and the SG and Semarnat “act with transparency” and present evidence of the existence of the “effective and trans-sexennial” continuity of the Justice Plan for Cananea-Río Sonora.
They also demanded the projects, budgets and long-term operating plans for the existing water treatment plants, the four plants “that they falsely claim to have built,” and the rest of the plants that are necessary to guarantee drinking water for the entire basin.
In terms of health, they requested a specialized plan on toxicology and environmental health for the Sonora River, as well as a plan for justice from Business and Human Rights so that the Grupo México mine is held accountable for its actions.
They pointed out that due to the authorities’ failure to present plans regarding health and the environment, a judge ordered Semarnat and the State Coordination of IMSS-Bienestar, “under penalty of fine and/or dismissal from public office,” to organize a meeting with the affected people to clearly communicate to them the environmental and health measures implemented in the communities.
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– 2024-08-23 22:50:46
