Uxpanapa-La Cangrejera aqueduct legal disputes

A federal judge in Oaxaca issued a definitive suspension for the construction of the Uxpanapa-La Cangrejera aqueduct, citing insufficient environmental impact studies. The ruling, prompted by legal challenges from communities in the Uxpanapa River Basin, required federal authorities to conduct comprehensive technical and environmental assessments before proceeding with the project intended to supply water to Coatzacoalcos and regional petrochemical complexes.

Following subsequent legal action via a collective amparo lawsuit filed by 13 Chinantec and Nahua indigenous communities in Veracruz, the court ordered mandatory environmental inspections of the project and the lower Uxpanapa River basin. While construction was permitted to continue under these specific conditions, authorities were mandated to perform technical verifications to ensure compliance with the National Water Law and Mexican Official Standards. The court stipulated that work must be temporarily suspended if inspections reveal aquifer contamination, ecological imbalances, or a lack of valid authorizations.