Santa María Chimalapa opposes mega aqueduct project

The Zoque indigenous community of Santa María Chimalapa has reaffirmed its legal and social opposition to a proposed mega aqueduct project. The project, involving the National Water Commission (Conagua) and the municipality of Coatzacoalcos, aims to divert water from the Uxpanapa River to serve the petrochemical industry in Veracruz.

Community leaders denied claims by the Mayor of Coatzacoalcos regarding existing agreements with Conagua. They emphasized that the project would traverse communal territory without the required consultation with the indigenous population. The community is currently pursuing legal action, including an indirect amparo lawsuit that has secured a definitive suspension from the Sixth Court of Salina Cruz.

In response to delays in constitutional hearings, the Chimalapa authorities have filed three new legal resources regarding the non-compliance of the suspension. The community has warned of potential mass mobilizations to protect their ancestral territory, which they describe as a site of significant biological diversity.