The environmental entity ordered the immediate suspension of the activities identified in the villages of Las Colonias and Puerto López (Fonseca).

Corpoguajira imposed two preventive measures to suspend works for the illegal extraction of barite mineral in the villages of Las Colonias and Puerto López (Fonseca). The exploitations were carried out without having the respective permits and environmental licenses issued by the entity to carry out said exploitation..

This is how Samuel Lanao Robles explained it, General Manager Corpoguajira, who explained that in the framework of the investigations carried out by the environmental authority it was found that sinkholes were created for the extraction of the material manually (pico- pala), which was collected in aluminum tanks and stored in mounds.

“In addition to the above, some fallen trees were found due to the excavation., others with exposed roots and several felled. Due to the above explained, The entity issued the administrative acts in order to prevent and avoid the continuation of these activities and situations that are threatening the environment and natural resources.”, added the official.

Meanwhile, Estela Freile, Territorial Director of Corpoguajira (Fonseca), He specified that “preventive measures are to be executed immediately, are preventive and transitory, have immediate effect and against them there is no recourse.

We request the support of those involved, of the public force and the municipal administration, to support us to make effective compliance with the administrative decision adopted by the entity ".

It should be noted that the resources impacted by the extraction to make the material are soil, air, landscape and biodiversity.

Finally, Corpoguajira indicated that it will carry out a rigorous follow-up in the places where the events occurred., in order to exercise control and surveillance. Además, invited the inhabitants of the department to comply with the procedures enshrined in environmental regulations at the time of carrying out an intervention that affects the natural resources of their jurisdiction.