This Tuesday, citizens of Nayarit protested at the delegation of the National Water Commission (Conagua) to present proposals in favor of community management of water resources and to reject the revival of a hydroelectric dam project in the state.
The organizations that make up the Popular University of Social Movements Nayarit (UPMSN) and other allied groups reiterated their rejection of the construction of the Las Cruces hydroelectric dam, currently referred to as El Nayar, on the San Pedro River. They consider it a threat to the communities, their life and culture, as well as to the environment of the region.
They recalled that for 16 years, indigenous peoples and experts have pointed out the drawbacks, managing to halt construction during the presidencies of Peña Nieto and López Obrador. However, the current governor of Nayarit, Miguel Ángel Navarro Quintero, and the president of the Republic, Claudia Sheinbaum, along with legislators from Morena and members of that party in the state, are promoting its revival, alluding to development.
The collectives pointed out that this project represents a significant risk, both environmentally and culturally, as it would impact sacred areas essential for the social and spiritual life of indigenous communities in the San Pedro River basin.
Additionally, they asserted that there are scientific studies showing the negative impacts of this project, which would inundate sacred sites and communities where indigenous peoples are at risk of disappearing as a culture. "Local and international scientists warn about the environmental, legal, sociocultural, and economic unfeasibility of this project," they warned.
During this protest, the demonstrators reiterated their support for the "dignified resistance of peoples and communities in defense of the Free San Pedro River" and insisted on the need to respect culturally appropriate and genuinely sustainable development alternatives.
In Nayarit, they delivered to Conagua the Socio-Hydric Diagnosis of the San Pedro-Mezquital River basin, a participatory research project aimed at establishing bases for inter-community resource planning and strengthening collaboration in the region.
In Nayarit, there are plans to create an autonomous oversight body, with the organization Nuiwari, A.C. being the main promoter of this local initiative. The citizens emphasized the importance of ensuring that the upcoming General Water Law includes management models that prioritize transparency, equitable access, savings and reuse, fair rates, and effective citizen participation. Furthermore, they expressed their support for the National Agreement for Water Security and Sustainability, recently announced by President Claudia Sheinbaum, which they described as an effort to correct the serious social and environmental problems caused by the water concession system.
