NewsWhore
10-19-2011, 04:00 PM
The failure to fulfill laws and rulings on river water management, combined with the lack of awareness on the part of citizens and industries have converted many leading rivers into giant sewage outlets, exposing the public to contagious diseases, as reported by Bethania Apolinar in an investigative report in Listin Diario. Slums built along the Higuamo, Isabela, Ozama, Haina, Yaque del Norte and Nigua rivers, among others pollute the waters. Very few industries located near these rivers have residual water treatment plants, and where they have been installed they are non-operational. The most polluted river is the Ozama-Isabela, followed by the Higuamo in San Pedro de Macoris. Several studies have diagnosed the pollution problems and sources of these rivers, but there is a lack of action on the part of the authorities. "What is lacking is the will to solve the problem, which should be a priority for the state, including municipal governments, which have to do their bit because until this problem is solved, this city is not going to change because the central axis of San Pedro's development is the Higuamo River," said Miguelina Brugal, Hydrology specialist and professor at the Universidad Central del Este in San Pedro de Macoris.
Meanwhile, the Universidad Catolica Nordestana (UCNE) is developing a project for the conservation and protection of the Jaya River, which passes through the city of San Francisco de Macoris. The project focuses on raising the awareness of residents of the Jaya river basin.
Environmentalist Eleuterio Martinez told Listin Diario that if the government secured the fulfillment of Law 64-00 of Environment the problems that affect the river basins would be resolved. "We will only be able to guarantee the quality of the waters by applying the rules," said Martinez. Since 2000 when the law was passed, industries were given two years to implement their environmental management plan, "but nothing has been done," said Martinez.
www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2011/10/19/207770/Sobran-planes-pero-no-se-aplican-en-rios (http://www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2011/10/19/207770/Sobran-planes-pero-no-se-aplican-en-rios)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
Meanwhile, the Universidad Catolica Nordestana (UCNE) is developing a project for the conservation and protection of the Jaya River, which passes through the city of San Francisco de Macoris. The project focuses on raising the awareness of residents of the Jaya river basin.
Environmentalist Eleuterio Martinez told Listin Diario that if the government secured the fulfillment of Law 64-00 of Environment the problems that affect the river basins would be resolved. "We will only be able to guarantee the quality of the waters by applying the rules," said Martinez. Since 2000 when the law was passed, industries were given two years to implement their environmental management plan, "but nothing has been done," said Martinez.
www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2011/10/19/207770/Sobran-planes-pero-no-se-aplican-en-rios (http://www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2011/10/19/207770/Sobran-planes-pero-no-se-aplican-en-rios)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)