Progreso, Yucatán — A federal court has suspended municipal permits for the Las Dunas real estate project in Chuburná Puerto, handing a new legal victory to residents and civil groups who argued that their environmental rights were violated.
Residents of Chuburná Puerto, together with the Salvemos las Dunas collective and the human rights organization Kanan Derechos Humanos, filed an amparo lawsuit against the project. They argued that the municipal government of Progreso should have held public consultations before granting land-use, construction and operating permits for the development, in line with environmental standards including the Escazú Agreement.
The First District Court in Yucatán granted a provisional suspension, ordering authorities to halt the construction license and land-use license for the complex, as well as any other construction activity that could affect the surrounding environment. The court also instructed authorities to implement a consultation process and set a 50,000-peso bond to maintain the suspension.
In a statement, Salvemos las Dunas described the ruling as an initial victory for the defense of the territory and the environment, and denounced a context of collusion between authorities and business interests. The group launched a fundraising appeal to cover legal costs, warning that the defense of the coast demands constant spending on travel, legal procedures and court-ordered guarantees.
The new measure adds to previous legal actions in the case, including orders from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa).
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