mazmessenger.com
A major concern during the extraordinary cabinet
meeting was the response of Presa Picachos community members.
With a majority vote yesterday, Mazatlán’s municipal council gave the green light to the proposal by the company Desarrollos Residenciales Monte Real A.S. de C.V. to build a mini hydroelectric plant to take advantage of water from the Picachos dam which presently flows into the Pacific Ocean.
The vote of approval allows the company to begin the permit process to purchase land for the 15 megawatts plant that will save the municipality 13.1 percent in energy costs, representing 14 million pesos annually.
The approval, however, was granted despite objections and doubts voiced by some council members who did not raise their hands when the proposal was put to vote.
Among concerns raised by dissenting council members was the question of the response by the Presa Picacho community who own the land where the mini plant would be constructed, the environmental effects, the origin of the company Desarrollos Residenciales which was formed in March, 2014 in Torreón, Coahuilla and the benefits for the municipality.
Councilwoman Esperanza Kazuga Osaka questioned whether the company itself would construct the mini hydroelectric dam and on asking the direct question was advised the company would only finance the project and hire another company to construct the plant. When she requested the name of the construction company and information about its past projects, Kazuga Osaka stated she was simply told it was a company from Veracruz.
The other major concern during the extraordinary cabinet meeting was the response of Presa Picachos community members who for years have been fighting the State and Federal governments for payment for lands expropriated for the Pichachos dam.
Municipal Secretary, María del Rosario Torres Noriega, said they have provided the residents with information about the project. As the community still expressed doubts and uncertainty they have promised to meet with them once more to clear up their concerns.
(from Noroeste)
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