Just days before the start of the debate on the Water Law in the Chamber of Deputies, peasant leaders warned that if their demands related to this new law are not addressed, they are ready to mobilize and block highways once again.
After meeting with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Kenia López Rabadán (PAN), to whom they expressed their proposals and concerns regarding this reform, Eraclio Rodríguez Gómez, leader of the National Front for the Rescue of the Mexican Countryside, indicated that there has been progress in the negotiations to ensure their demands are reflected in the final bill.
However, he maintained that many issues remain unresolved, and warned that producers are on high alert. He stated that if issues such as the recognition of livestock and other wells with free water extraction are not addressed, they are ready to mobilize immediately.
Rodríguez Gómez also indicated that they will continue the dialogue in the coming days and seek to promote changes to the document, both in the drafting committees and through the presentation of amendments, but this will be discussed with the representatives of all parliamentary groups.
Among the concerns they still have, he explained that the reform does include the recognition of drinking water in towns and communities and of all wells drilled using free-flowing methods, but some remain pending that have not been reviewed and are not included in the law.
Furthermore, he added, the recognition of livestock rights is lacking, as well as the issue of public investment in water recovery and management.
He also maintained that they will defend the volumes allocated to the agricultural sector and will not interfere with the issue of mining; however, he commented that they do not agree with giving this industry free rein and then polluting the rivers.
“What worries us about water volumes is that we are losing more than 55%, which is rainwater that flows into the seas,” he stated.
He also acknowledged that all the sanctions and penalties of the law do not apply in the agricultural sector, which provides a great deal of certainty for producers.
However, he reiterated that his position and demands are not capricious and that they are not seeking to fight with anyone, but rather to convince the legislators of the shortcomings of the law and how these can be addressed.
Previously, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Kenia López Rabadán, reported that the meeting held with more than 35 producers from 10 states was to address requests for dialogue, to register concerns and proposals, so that they could be sent to the relevant committees.
“The process of amending the water law continues this week, and that is why I have decided to meet with a group of producers who requested to share their comments with us,” she said before the meeting.
In this context, she emphasized that the goal is a “frank, direct, and constructive dialogue,” the contributions of which will be compiled into an official report to be sent to the drafting committee for analysis and inclusion in the final report. The committee meeting will be held this Wednesday, December 3, at 9:30 a.m.
She added that this is an absolutely crucial issue, given that there are nearly 600,000 water concessions and an equal number of families who would be impacted by these modifications.
Finally, regarding potential protests and blockades by farmers and producers, the presiding congresswoman reiterated that all Mexicans have the right to demonstrate peacefully and within the framework of the law.
Source: eleconomista
