“Maya Train Project Faces Legal Halt Over Indigenous and Environmental Concerns”

Construction on sections 5 and 7 of the Maya Train project continues despite mounting protests, legal demands, and a court-ordered suspension. The project has been criticized for causing widespread damage to various communities, including deforestation, pollution, and violations of indigenous rights.

The first suspension of the project came in 2020, four and a half years ago, when a judge halted construction of section 7, located between the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo. The suspension was due to the project's failure to consult with local communities, a requirement under agreement 169 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Indigenous and Popular Regional Council of Xpujil. Romel González Díaz, a member of the Indigenous Regional Council, stated that this demand highlighted the government's disregard for indigenous rights by failing to consult them about the project's potential impact.

On July 12th, workers from section 5 of the Maya Train project blocked highway 307 near Puerto Aventuras, demanding improved working conditions and basic amenities like electricity and water in their camps. This section of the project also faces two new court suspensions, which demand a complete halt to construction from Playa del Carmen to Tulum due to damage to cenotes, caves, and underground rivers.

Before and after construction began in 2023, Greenpeace voiced concerns about the project's environmental impact. The organization highlighted the removal of over 10 million trees and the disruption of wildlife routes, which threatens one of Central America's most important jaguar populations. The Mexican Center for Environmental Law (Cemda) also criticized the project, noting that it involves deforestation of 2,500 hectares of wet and dry jungle, water shortages in Calakmul, and disruption of local fauna.

Another group, Save Me from the Train, has been actively highlighting the environmental damage caused by the project, particularly in Section 5. They have used social media to expose the harm caused by drilling in caves, including contamination of the aquifer layer by seeping cement. The project's Environmental Impact Statement also warns of potential flooding during the rainy season and the risk of sinkholes due to the area's karst structures. This warning was realized on July 9th, when floods in Bacalar, Quintana Roo, reached the tracks of the Maya Train.

Tags: Nation, Politics, Environment, Maya Train