NewsWhore
02-15-2007, 02:21 PM
Geologist Osiris de Leon, speaking at the UASD Library auditorium yesterday, recommended that the government abandon the construction of the north-south 14.2 km line of Santo Domingo's first underground transport system and use the ditches for the construction of a sewage system for Santo Domingo instead. De Leon feels that if the government continues with the metro construction as so far, there is a strong risk that the structure will collapse.
He says that the government violated Environmental Law 64-00 and did not carry out the required preliminary studies, and as a result has had to increase spending and in some cases duplicate the metro structures when it finds inadequate soils on the chosen route. De Leon says that the government was aware that studies were necessary but did not carry these out and instead used of the RD$750 million that were allotted for the first year to begin to open ditches. De Leon warned that throughout the ground of Santo Domingo, underground caverns and clay soils on the planned metro route could cause the structures to collapse in the event of heavy rainfall, as has already occurred at several points during construction. De Leon also warned such a collapse would also happen in case of an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale.
De Leon was also very critical of the government's solution for the dumping of earth dug up to build the metro - alongside the La Isabela River. He says this is in violation of the protected area. He mentioned the government had announced that an extension of the Avenida del Puerto would be built, but then found it would have to dynamite the ground in order to pass the La Zurza area and apparently has abandoned the avenue extension.
De Leon mentioned that the government has spent over RD$6.6 billion on the construction so far, almost the entire proposed cost for the metro, which was US$325 million, and that this amount is only enough for 12% of the construction.
De Leon is an advocate of a bus system for the city, and mentions that the cost of buses is US$5 million per kilometer compared to US$100 million per kilometer for the metro, with the advantage that buses allow flexibility for changing their routes. He mentioned that to feed passengers for the metro, the metro office has already planned 140 kms of east-west bus feeder routes.
The Fernandez administration allotted RD$10.7 billion for the metro construction in this year's budget, funded by a tax increase, up from RD$1.8 billion in 2006.
De Leon estimates that the government would have to subsidize the metro to the tune of RD$3.2 billion a year in order for it to operate. He forecast that Dominican taxpayers would have to pay RD$55 billion for the metro to be completed.
He urged the government to spend the funds in the Santo Domingo sewage system instead, which is estimated to cost US$1 billion, and for which governments over the years have said there is not enough money. "The construction of the sewage system would guarantee public health, because currently 75% of sewage is disposed of using wells that pollute the underground waters.
De Leon said that the country should invite Greenpeace, and the US and French geological societies for their opinions on the geological aspects and violations of environmental laws. Furthermore, the president of the Academy of Science, Nelson Moreno Ceballos mentioned that it is up to the Ministry of Environment to act in response to any breaches of Environmental Law 64-00 caused by the metro construction.
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He says that the government violated Environmental Law 64-00 and did not carry out the required preliminary studies, and as a result has had to increase spending and in some cases duplicate the metro structures when it finds inadequate soils on the chosen route. De Leon says that the government was aware that studies were necessary but did not carry these out and instead used of the RD$750 million that were allotted for the first year to begin to open ditches. De Leon warned that throughout the ground of Santo Domingo, underground caverns and clay soils on the planned metro route could cause the structures to collapse in the event of heavy rainfall, as has already occurred at several points during construction. De Leon also warned such a collapse would also happen in case of an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale.
De Leon was also very critical of the government's solution for the dumping of earth dug up to build the metro - alongside the La Isabela River. He says this is in violation of the protected area. He mentioned the government had announced that an extension of the Avenida del Puerto would be built, but then found it would have to dynamite the ground in order to pass the La Zurza area and apparently has abandoned the avenue extension.
De Leon mentioned that the government has spent over RD$6.6 billion on the construction so far, almost the entire proposed cost for the metro, which was US$325 million, and that this amount is only enough for 12% of the construction.
De Leon is an advocate of a bus system for the city, and mentions that the cost of buses is US$5 million per kilometer compared to US$100 million per kilometer for the metro, with the advantage that buses allow flexibility for changing their routes. He mentioned that to feed passengers for the metro, the metro office has already planned 140 kms of east-west bus feeder routes.
The Fernandez administration allotted RD$10.7 billion for the metro construction in this year's budget, funded by a tax increase, up from RD$1.8 billion in 2006.
De Leon estimates that the government would have to subsidize the metro to the tune of RD$3.2 billion a year in order for it to operate. He forecast that Dominican taxpayers would have to pay RD$55 billion for the metro to be completed.
He urged the government to spend the funds in the Santo Domingo sewage system instead, which is estimated to cost US$1 billion, and for which governments over the years have said there is not enough money. "The construction of the sewage system would guarantee public health, because currently 75% of sewage is disposed of using wells that pollute the underground waters.
De Leon said that the country should invite Greenpeace, and the US and French geological societies for their opinions on the geological aspects and violations of environmental laws. Furthermore, the president of the Academy of Science, Nelson Moreno Ceballos mentioned that it is up to the Ministry of Environment to act in response to any breaches of Environmental Law 64-00 caused by the metro construction.
http://200.88.113.180/author/osirisdeleon
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#11)