He Ministry of Environment proposed to the presidency an initiative that aims to fine offenders of environmental crimes for millions of dollars and shot the mayor of Maldonado, Enrique Antía, about the real estate projects that would have great consequences on the flora and fauna of the municipality and for which the leader does not take a firm position.
The leader of Environment, Robert Bouvier, assured Channel 10 that the ministry “is very concerned” about projects that begin work without the corresponding environmental authorizations. Furthermore, he believed that the fines are often not appropriate to the size of the real estate ventures.
Therefore, since Atmosphere They decided to raise a project directly to the Presidency where the request was made to raise the range of fines for projects that fail to comply with environmental laws. On the other hand, Bouvier pointed out that, in addition to fines, a public statement should be made since companies care about their image. “Public condemnation is much stronger,” he argued.
In addition to commenting on the project, the minister shot directly with the mayor of Maldonado, which was questioned several times regarding environmental laws and the real estate ventures it promotes. “The signals given by the municipal and national government” should be: “Work cannot begin,” Bouvier said.
“We cannot allow them. You cannot make a custom,” he added and advised that the mayor should be more “categorical” in his public statements. “The mayor’s statements are not forceful. He has to be more categorical in saying ‘it can’t be done,'” she explained.
For this reason, he asked that the environmental risks posed by some projects not be minimized. “You have to comply with the regulations, not everything goes,” she said.
Complaints are increasing
He Ministry of Environment received a total of 1,234 complaints during last year, perceiving an increase of 31% compared to 2021, being cannelloni and Montevideo the departments with the highest rate of complaints.
The environmental portfolio has been receiving increasing complaints since 2020. However, during 2023 there was a jump in the number of claims, went from 946 in 2022 to 1,234 last year. Meanwhile, in 2021, a total of 922 were registered, while in 2020 there were 892 complaints.
According to what was reported by Environment, of the total number of complaints, 484 of the complaints made were diverted to the corresponding municipalities, while a total of 59 were managed.
Among the departments that received the most complaints is Montevideo, firstly, with a total of 255, followed by cannelloni with 252, representing an increase of 21 and 20%, respectively.
These were followed Maldonado occupying third place with 232 complaints, an increase of 19% compared to last year. Fourth place is occupied Rocha with an increase of 10% compared to 2022 with a total of 122 claims. For its part, Cologne It ranked fifth with 70 complaints, representing an increase of 6%.
Source: Ambito
