President López Obrador Faces Backlash Over Mayan Train Project Delays

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has acknowledged that the construction of Section 5 of the Mayan Train has been delayed due to protests by environmental groups. These groups have expressed concerns about potential damage to the jungle ecosystem.

During a morning conference, the president referred to these protestors as "pseudo-environmentalists". He pointed out their lack of opposition when companies like Xcaret built hotels and underground rivers, causing significant environmental damage.

The president also noted that various celebrities and businessmen, including Claudio X. González, have participated in these protests, further delaying the project. "Section 5 has been particularly challenging," he said. "Despite its relatively short length, we've had to take special care of cenotes, caves, and underground rivers. These same protestors were silent when the entire Riviera Maya was being destroyed for hotel and underground river construction."

President López Obrador used the case of Xel-Ha to highlight the hypocrisy of these environmentalist groups. He explained how this beautiful, publicly-owned area was sold off and developed during the neoliberal period without any protest. "When Cancún was first developed, it was practically unpopulated. Xel-Ha was declared a cultural and tourist reserve area. But over time, the trust disappeared, the land was sold off, and there were no environmentalists to be seen," he said.

Despite these challenges, the president assured that environmental care has been a priority during the construction of Section 5. He explained that to minimize impact on the jungle, 80 kilometers of the 120-kilometer stretch from Cancun to Tulum are being built as viaducts. "This is two or three times more expensive than building at ground level, but it's necessary to preserve the jungle. We've also had to deal with numerous injunctions," he concluded.