NewsWhore
06-01-2009, 07:20 PM
Minister of the Environment Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal accuses business interests of being behind the opposition to the construction of a cement factory on the outskirts of the Los Haitises National Park.
Fernandez argued that those same people who are defending the National Park today should have done so four years ago when the government agreed to build the Samana Highway, which cut the park in half. Fernandez, who has been vigilant on Environmental issues since taking office, says that he is glad that people are showing an interest in protecting the park, but maintains that the cement factory will not hurt the environment.
The Dominican Mining Consortium (Consorcio Minero Dominicano), a company belonging to leading Santiago businessman and builder Manuel Estrella, announced the start of construction of the cement plant in April. The company stresses that it will provide 500 direct jobs for the town of Gonzalo and nearby communities.
One of the strongest opponents of the construction of the plant outside the National Park, Luis Carvajal, of the Academy of Sciences, has said it will affect water reserves in the area. He said that the cement plant would go up right on top of the formation of subterranean waters.
He points to the National Hydro-geological Study of the Dominican Republic Phase II, funded by the European Union in 2004 that indicates that the subterranean waters are not only within the ecological reserve.
The Ministry of Environment authorized the construction of the cement plant between 1.5 to 3 kms outside the park limits. The study reports that the hydro-geological area of Los Haitises covers an area of 1,682 km2 throughout the provinces of Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris), Samana, Monte Plata and Hato Mayor.
Two ecological groups, United Communities Farmers Movement (Movimiento Campesino Comunidades Unidas - MCCU) and Espeleogrupo have submitted a legal recourse requesting the stop of construction works.
Los Haitises is a world ecological phenomenon being the second largest karst aquifer region in the world, extending over an area of 1,860km2.
Speaking today on Hoy Mismo TV program, Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez said that President Leonel Fernandez himself had chosen the site for the cement plant. He said he does what he is required to do by the State.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
Fernandez argued that those same people who are defending the National Park today should have done so four years ago when the government agreed to build the Samana Highway, which cut the park in half. Fernandez, who has been vigilant on Environmental issues since taking office, says that he is glad that people are showing an interest in protecting the park, but maintains that the cement factory will not hurt the environment.
The Dominican Mining Consortium (Consorcio Minero Dominicano), a company belonging to leading Santiago businessman and builder Manuel Estrella, announced the start of construction of the cement plant in April. The company stresses that it will provide 500 direct jobs for the town of Gonzalo and nearby communities.
One of the strongest opponents of the construction of the plant outside the National Park, Luis Carvajal, of the Academy of Sciences, has said it will affect water reserves in the area. He said that the cement plant would go up right on top of the formation of subterranean waters.
He points to the National Hydro-geological Study of the Dominican Republic Phase II, funded by the European Union in 2004 that indicates that the subterranean waters are not only within the ecological reserve.
The Ministry of Environment authorized the construction of the cement plant between 1.5 to 3 kms outside the park limits. The study reports that the hydro-geological area of Los Haitises covers an area of 1,682 km2 throughout the provinces of Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris), Samana, Monte Plata and Hato Mayor.
Two ecological groups, United Communities Farmers Movement (Movimiento Campesino Comunidades Unidas - MCCU) and Espeleogrupo have submitted a legal recourse requesting the stop of construction works.
Los Haitises is a world ecological phenomenon being the second largest karst aquifer region in the world, extending over an area of 1,860km2.
Speaking today on Hoy Mismo TV program, Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez said that President Leonel Fernandez himself had chosen the site for the cement plant. He said he does what he is required to do by the State.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)