Yucatán Maya communities fight quarry expansion near heritage sites

Maya communities in Yucatán, including Yaxcopoil, San José Tzal, Tebec, and Hotzuc, are mounting a legal offensive against stone material quarries. These operations are situated near their homes, vital water sources, and significant archaeological sites, prompting accusations that authorities have failed to protect their rights.

The communities, supported by the organization Utsil Kuxtal, have filed complaints with environmental agencies, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and federal courts. They specifically cite the proximity of quarries to residential areas, archaeological sites like Yaxcopoil-Tanmul, and even a gas storage tank, raising concerns about safety and environmental impact.

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The communities accuse federal and state authorities of not guaranteeing their rights to territory, indigenous consultation, and a healthy environment.

One recent complaint, filed on August 19th, targets CYPSSA-Península and another unnamed quarry. The communities argue these operations were established without proper consultation and pose a threat to their ancestral lands and cultural heritage. A technical study incorporated into the complaints indicates one quarry's operations are less than a kilometer from Yaxcopoil's population center and just over 1.9 kilometers from the Yaxcopoil-Tanmul archaeological site.

In March, residents from San José Tzal, Hotzuc, and Tebec initiated legal action through a writ of amparo against federal and state authorities. This lawsuit challenges omissions that allegedly allowed a quarry operated by the company PROSER to continue functioning. The ongoing legal battles highlight a growing tension between resource extraction and the rights of indigenous communities in the region.

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the operations are located 994 meters from the population center of Yaxcopoil, 1,918 meters from the archaeological site Yaxcopoil-Tanmul, and approximately 600 meters from a stationary gas tank.