Bacalar, Quintana Roo — The Office of Environmental Protection for the State of Quintana Roo (PPA) has imposed a temporary closure on military construction works in Bacalar, following a protective measure requested by a federal court. Although the action was only recently disclosed, the state agency acted on May 12, according to a report issued by the PPA as part of an injunction filed by local youth in Bacalar.
Legal Action and Inspection Findings
The PPA’s report, submitted as part of the ongoing legal proceedings in federal injunction case 313/2025, states: "The Attorney General for Environmental Protection of Quintana Roo, in compliance with the provisional suspension order, reported that following an inspection, a security measure was imposed consisting of the 'temporary closure of the project.'"
The agency presented the First District Judge with a copy of the inspection order and report (PPA/DP/DPAA/01/0215/2025), dated May 12, 2025, verifying compliance with the state’s Law for the Prevention, Comprehensive Management, and Circular Economy of Waste.
Ongoing Legal Dispute
The injunction was filed with legal assistance from the Federal Public Defender’s Institute and includes a provisional suspension, which mandates an immediate halt to construction activities for a military facility along the shores of Bacalar Lagoon. Despite this, recent reports indicate that military personnel resumed work last week, despite three separate suspension orders.
The PPA’s latest enforcement action adds to the legal pressure on the project, which had previously been exempted from submitting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the construction of a rest house. While Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) initially ruled that the project would not cause significant environmental harm, environmental activists have documented dredging activities in the coastal ecosystem, raising concerns about ecological damage.
Background and Controversy
The construction has faced opposition from environmental groups, who argue that the project threatens Bacalar’s fragile lagoon ecosystem. The PPA’s intervention marks a significant escalation in the legal battle, reinforcing demands for stricter environmental oversight.
No further updates on the case have been provided by federal or state authorities at this time.
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