The general manager of El Charco del Ingenio, Mario Arturo Hernández Peña, warned about the environmental risks involved in building a new golf course in San Miguel de Allende, a project announced weeks ago by golfer Lorena Ochoa.
In an interview, the specialist pointed out that the impact could be severe due to the region’s critical water situation.
In recent weeks, the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, along with the director of the National Water Commission (Conagua), Efraín Morales, reported that a review of 428,014 water well concession titles identified 58,938 with some type of irregularity.
Among the most frequent irregularities were the absence of expiration dates, possible cases of forgery, use of the resource for unauthorized activities, and errors in location coordinates, among other issues. On that occasion, it was reported that a well in Guanajuato, with an agricultural title, was being used for a golf club.
“We are in one of the most overexploited watersheds in the country, and a golf course, with its high water demand, is alarming in a region where we lack quality water,” he stated.
Peña Hernández explained that the concern increased after the mayor of San Miguel de Allende himself acknowledged that the municipality was already aware of the intention to build the complex and that they were looking for a location that wouldn’t affect the city.
“Placing it anywhere within the watershed, which encompasses 10 municipalities, would have a serious impact on the water supply for the entire population,” he warned.
Given this situation, the activist made a direct appeal to federal and state environmental authorities to prevent the development of projects that affect the watershed in the area, which is already overexploited.
“It is important that Semarnat (the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources), Conagua (the National Water Commission), and Sama (the Ministry of the Environment) examine this issue with the facts and sensitivity, because it is unbelievable that in a region where we are running out of water, a project of this magnitude is being prioritized,” he pointed out.
Finally, the president of the Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens also noted that this discussion is taking place while the country debates a new National Water Law, amidst growing public discontent over the lack of certainty regarding water resource management.
“It would be very unfortunate if the current institutions did not intervene; for years they have been shaped until they are toothless in addressing problems like this,” he concluded.
Source: zonafranca
