A project called ¡RÍO VIVE! is benefiting at least 170,000 people from 52 nearby neighborhoods to the Pesquería River with the aim of addressing unsanitary issues in the stream. Previously, the Pesquería River had accumulated 121,000 tons of garbage and illegal activities such as land selling, dog fighting, and pollution from burning tires and trash were detected.
During a press conference of the Nuevo León Informa program, the Secretary of the Environment, Alfonso Martínez, reported that cleanup efforts, law enforcement, urban interventions, and relocation of families have been carried out. In addition, more than 20 million pesos were invested in converting dumps into parks, demolishing illegal businesses, and rehabilitating public squares.
"We have already removed 21,300 tons (of debris), 49 clandestine properties were demolished, four public squares were rehabilitated, and we are in negotiations and hope that by 2025 these people can move to another site and continue with the park we want to build in the Pesquería River," Martínez mentioned.
The project also includes activities of dredging, remediation, and repairing damage caused in the river, as well as cleaning up garbage and municipal solid waste. Martínez highlighted that permission has been obtained from the National Water Commission to modify the course, compacting debris, covering it with soil, and shaping the river.
During Nuevo León Informa, neighbors from the area accompanied the secretary and shared their testimonies about the benefits of the ¡RÍO VIVE! project. A neighbor named Mibzam González thanked the effort against the issues that, according to her, had not been addressed in past administrations. Another neighbor praised the actions of the state government in the area and highlighted the positive changes, as well as the support provided in the relocation of families.
