Arequipa planning institute seeks to modify green area protections

The Municipal Institute of Planning of Arequipa (IMPLA) is seeking to modify or repeal Regional Ordinance No. 007-2003-GRA/CR, a two-decade-old regulation that declares the region's agricultural lands and green areas intangible.

IMPLA manager Patricia Muñoz Medina stated that the request is a technical necessity to align urban planning with current legislation, specifically the Law of Sustainable Urban Development. She argued that the existing 2003 ordinance interferes with the competencies of the Provincial Municipality of Arequipa and hinders the implementation of the upcoming Metropolitan Development Plan (PDM) 2026.

While some critics view the move as a threat to the countryside, IMPLA maintains that the goal is to rectify technical errors and provide an updated regulatory framework. The institute intends to present the final project of the Metropolitan Development Plan to the public in mid-September to ensure effective protection of green spaces through modern technical standards.