Puerto Morelos Builds Without Green Light

Cancún, Q. Roo — Real estate developers in Puerto Morelos have initiated and continued construction work backed solely by permits issued by local authorities, without obtaining the required Environmental Impact Assessment (MIA) from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).

Mónica Huerta Solís, a member of the organization Defending the Right to a Healthy Environment (DMAS), stated that this pattern has been identified in at least two of the three lawsuits the organization is currently pursuing in the municipality.

One case involves a development located on Heriberto Frías Street, where the promoter began construction relying only on building license PM-1566, issued by the City Council. However, this license was revoked by the Eighth District Court, which determined it was granted without the prior approval of the MIA, thereby contravening current environmental legislation.

"This ruling is key because it orders a halt to any work related to that project, prohibits new authorizations, and demands an environmental impact study in accordance with the law," she explained.

She added that another similar case involves the Alux 33 project, which allegedly received irregular permits from the state's Secretary of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), despite having been rejected by Semarnat.

"Since they were already shut down by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) and Semarnat denied them authorization, they went to SEMA, which issued a resolution allowing them to continue construction. That is where we intervene, because SEMA is not the authorized body to grant that type of permit. There must first be an approval from Semarnat," she emphasized.