Prosecutor Investigates La Punta Mayor for Alleged Environmental Damage in S/1.5 Million Project

The prosecutor's office is investigating the mayor of La Punta, Peru, for alleged environmental offenses linked to a municipal project valued at approximately S/1.5 million. The project aims to install children's playground equipment in La Arenilla, an area residents claim is a protected coastal wetland and ecosystem.

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They have taken more than 1,300 square meters of garden and cemented them. They tore down palm trees and trees planted years ago in the area.

Residents have denounced irregularities in the project's execution, asserting that the municipality improperly used the IOARR (Investment of Optimization, Marginal Expansion, Rehabilitation, and Replacement) modality. They argue this method allowed the municipality to bypass environmental impact studies and other permits required for new infrastructure projects. Neighbors also point to the cementation of over 1,300 square meters of garden space and the removal of mature trees and palm trees.

Further complicating the issue is the dispute over La Arenilla's ecological status. While Mayor Ramón Garay reportedly stated the area is not a wetland, residents highlight that the municipality itself previously installed signage identifying the space as a 'coastal wetland.' These signs, according to residents, have since been removed. Residents have filed complaints with environmental authorities, including OEFA, Sernanp, Serfor, and Dicapi, seeking an assessment of the potential environmental impact on local species and coastal areas.

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We assumed they would be modern and inclusive games, but they are quite basic structures. We want transparency about the increase of S/600,000.

The prosecutor's office has initiated preliminary investigations, conducting site visits and scheduling further interviews with residents. The controversy also includes questions about the project's budget, which reportedly increased from an initial S/900,000 to S/1.5 million, with residents seeking transparency regarding the S/600,000 increase for what they describe as basic playground structures.

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There were signs signed by the municipality itself where they asked to protect the ecosystem and the wetland. After the complaints, they began to remove them.