Barranquilla, Colombia – The Colombian Attorney General's Office has denounced significant environmental damage at the Ciénaga de Mallorquín, a protected wetland and Ramsar site located in the Atlantic department. The damage is attributed to the improper disposal of wastewater from the EBAR Mallorquín sewage treatment plant and other irregularities linked to the Ciudad Mallorquín urban development project.
Following a preventive technical visit to the Ciudad Mallorquín project, conducted jointly by the Attorney General's Office and the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Atlantic (CRA), authorities discovered the mismanagement of wastewater from the EBAR Mallorquín. This wastewater, instead of being treated appropriately, is being directed through a canal designed for rainwater into the Ciénaga de Mallorquín Ecopark, causing significant accumulation and disrupting the delicate ecological balance of the wetland and surrounding mangroves.
In addition to the wastewater discharge, the inspection revealed other irregularities, such as the improper disposal of construction materials in areas adjacent to the project. Based on reports, these actions were preceded by the clearing of vegetation, including mangroves, which will be investigated to determine if any illegal exploitation occurred.
Legal Action Taken
In response to these findings, the Attorney General's Office, led by Gustavo Adolfo Guerrero Ruiz, the Delegate for Environmental, Mining, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs, and Carlos Alberto Arrieta Martínez, the Second Judicial Environmental and Agrarian Prosecutor of Barranquilla, has filed a public interest lawsuit.
The lawsuit targets several entities, including the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Housing, the CRA, the Department of the Atlantic, the municipalities of Puerto Colombia and Barranquilla, the Metropolitan Area of Barranquilla, and the Triple A S.A. ESP. The goal of the lawsuit is to compel these entities to take immediate action to protect the ecosystem and hold those responsible accountable.
Environmental Concerns
The Ciénaga de Mallorquín is a vital ecosystem that supports a diverse range of flora and fauna. The improper disposal of wastewater and other pollutants poses a serious threat to the wetland's biodiversity and the surrounding communities that rely on its resources.
Environmental advocates have expressed deep concern over the ongoing damage and have called for swift and decisive action to restore the wetland to its natural state.
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