Lawsuit Filed to Suspend Casupá Dam Construction in Uruguay

A coalition of political figures and the Rural Federation has filed a lawsuit against the state water and sanitation company OSE, seeking to halt the construction of the Casupá dam. The legal action, spearheaded by Pablo Mieres of the Independent Party, also includes opposition legislators and local residents.

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Today we filed a lawsuit against OSE, driven by our Party, to halt the progress of actions for the construction of the Casupá Dam, with the signature of leaders from various parties, neighbors, and producers from the area and from @federacionrural

The core of the legal challenge centers on OSE's alleged procedural missteps. The plaintiffs contend that OSE commenced the bidding process for the dam's construction without first securing the mandatory prior environmental authorization from the Ministry of Environment. They argue this authorization is an indispensable prerequisite for determining the project's viability.

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It is a matter of form that should make us reflect, and fortunately, we have the possibility to express it in court and have a judge determine that in this case there is a state non-compliance, an abuse, and improper procedure.

In their petition to the court, the plaintiffs are requesting the immediate suspension of all activities related to the Casupá dam project. They aim to prevent OSE from taking any further administrative steps that would solidify the dam's development and to suspend the ongoing public tender for its construction. This legal maneuver is intended to remain in effect until a definitive court ruling is reached or an alternative solution is determined during the legal proceedings.

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We regret that unavoidable suspicions are generated, because if the Ministry of Environment commissions a study and is already saying that [the dam] will be built beforehand, it generates suspicions and we do not want to distrust.

Representatives from the Rural Federation and local residents have voiced concerns about the perceived "trampling" of necessary procedures. They emphasize that the legal recourse is not about questioning the dam's utility but about ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. The plaintiffs express suspicion that the project is being pushed forward despite pending environmental assessments, urging a judicial review to ensure state compliance with environmental laws.

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This lawsuit does not intend for the court to determine if the dam is useful and convenient, but rather we ask that it intervene to prevent the violation of environmental norms.