The government of Mexico City, through the Ministry of the Environment (SEDEMA), reported that it closed the tree felling area in the area known as “El Ocotal”, Cuajimalpa mayor’s office.
Sedema staff made a extraordinary inspection regarding treescarried out by the General Directorate of Inspection and Environmental Surveillance (DGIVA), went to the area of the Mexico-Toluca Highway km 24, La Venta neighborhood.
The Captalin authorities indicated that they identified recent signs of interventionamong them 14 recently cut stumpsapproximately 25 cubic meters of waste from demolition and pruningas well as pruning greater than 25 percent in various arboreal individualsparticularly towards Santa Rita Street.
Likewise, it was detected that the activities were carried out in an approximate polygon of 1,380 square meters, without the corresponding authorizations regarding trees being displayed on the sitenor technical opinion, current accreditation of the person responsible, nor documentation that supports the management of the waste generated.
According to the authorities, testimonies were collected at the site, where the work would have been carried out between April 28 and 30the latter being the day with the greatest intervention.
Therefore, he proceeded to place 13 closing stamps with the legend “CLAUSURADO”in order to suspend any activity in the area.
For its part, the Cuajimalpa mayor’s office reported that it will permanently monitor the works carried out in the El Ocotal area, corresponding to the Mexico–Toluca Interurban Trainand warned that it will proceed in accordance with the law if irregularities are detected in its execution.
Through a statement, the demarcation headed by Carlos Orvañanos noted that it maintains coordination with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), agency responsible for the federal project, with the objective of guaranteeing that the works comply with current regulations regarding construction, environmental impact and safety.
The local authority explained that the monitoring of the works responds to recent reports about activities in the El Ocotal area, which led to strengthening supervision and specifying that, although it is a federal work, there is shared responsibility in monitoring legal compliance in the territory of Mexico City.
In that sense, the mayor’s office stressed that it also maintains communication with the SEDEMAas well as with federal bodies, with which it currently jointly reviews the technical files and permits related to the work in progress.
“The objective is to guarantee that the works are carried out within the legal framework and in protection of the natural and urban environment,” indicated the mayor’s office in its official position.
The local government emphasized that one of the key points of the supervision is compliance with environmental provisionsparticularly because it is an area with relevant ecological characteristics. The review includes environmental impact permits, land use, waste management and mitigation measures.
Likewise, it was highlighted that inter-institutional coordination seeks to avoid impacts on nearby communitiesas well as prevent risks derived from possible non-compliance.
According to the mayor’s office, If omissions, inconsistencies or any type of non-compliance with the law are identified, the corresponding sanctions will be applied. in accordance with the legal powers of the demarcation.
In this context, the Cuajimalpa mayor’s office reiterated its role without invading federal powers, but ensuring that the work is carried out under adequate legal and technical standards.
