In Baja California Sur, local legislators approved a request for environmental and municipal authorities to strengthen beach inspections and surveillance, following reports of access blocked by real estate developments. The measure seeks to ensure respect for the right of free movement to the federal maritime land zone, which has been limited by physical barriers and security personnel restricting access to coastal areas.
By a majority vote, the plenary session of the XVII Baja California Sur Legislature approved urging the head of the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and state council members to carry out inspection and surveillance work on the state’s beaches.
The above, derived from what the petitioner, Representative Guadalupe Vázquez Jacinto, considered a lack of coordination between authorities regarding real estate developments established on land adjacent to the Federal Maritime Land Zone (ZOFEMAT), has resulted in insufficient access between private properties to allow free access from public roads.
Canirac reported that establishments in the city’s interior had an average occupancy of 60%.
Vázquez Jacinto pointed out that while the legislation clearly establishes the right of all persons to enjoy maritime beaches, in practice this right is frequently diminished and hindered by property owners adjacent to the federal maritime land zone, as well as by concessionaires, who establish physical barriers or deploy security personnel to control access or even attack those they determine to be trespassers.
During the discussion on the issue, Representative Alondra Torres García suggested that municipalities assign a task force to coordinate with the SEMARNAT Delegate in BCS, Cristina González Rubio Sanvicente, to exercise their inspection and surveillance powers.
Representative Fabrizio del Castillo Miranda, who expressed support for the initiative, requested that the balance between ecology and economy be considered, ensuring respect for private property and the proper organization that allows for unrestricted access to beaches for citizens.
Representative Venustiano Pérez Sánchez, in turn, expressed his support for the head of the Executive Branch, requesting that this same sentiment be incorporated into the resolution, to establish that the 17th Legislature supports the actions aimed at protecting BCS beaches.
Source: oem
