Residents demand repair of abandoned dredging machine in J. A. Saldívar

Residents in the Toledo Cañada community of J. A. Saldívar are urging the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) to repair a dredging machine that has been left abandoned for over a year. The machinery sits idle beside a stream, despite the urgent need for waterway maintenance to prevent potential flooding.

The equipment is located on a transversal street off Mbokajaty street, near the 4 de Octubre Club, at kilometer 26 of Route D027. Locals have expressed frustration over the machine's disuse, questioning why it hasn't been repaired or repurposed. They believe it could be instrumental in clearing the stream and mitigating risks associated with the upcoming El Niño phenomenon.

Christian Domínguez, a local resident, noted that the dragline has been in its current location for at least a year, stating, "I saw the dragline some months ago in the place while I was making transfers on platforms; it has been out of service for a long time, like a year, and it is next to a stream."

Another resident, Carlos Rojas, voiced concerns about the potential consequences of the stream's neglect. "El Niño is approaching, and the rains will be intense. The lack of maintenance of the stream could expose several families to floods, and it would be good to have the equipment," he said. Attempts to obtain an official statement from the MOPC's communications department regarding the abandoned machinery have so far been unsuccessful.