Residents of this border town with Guatemala blocked the Screwworm Sterile Fly Production Plant due to foul odors that have affected daily life and out of fear that they could affect their health.
The protesters demonstrated on Monday, but due to the lack of attention, they decided to block the complex on Tuesday and prevent the departure of shipments that are sent weekly to the northern part of the country, at the border with the United States, to combat screwworm.
Two schools located next to the plant, an elementary school and a middle school with nearly 500 students, temporarily suspended classes while the problem is resolved.
Luis Salgado, mayor of the town, said that efforts have been made with the plant’s directors, which is operated by Senasica, as well as with the Federal Government. He said they have committed to seeking a solution to the problem of the odors allegedly generated by the decomposition of organic matter, including food, feces, and dead flies.
“The problem is a very horrible, foul smell that has been generated throughout the environment,” said Ángela Rodas, a resident.
She said that although the stench mainly affects nearby residents, there are times when it spreads throughout the entire town, which has about 7,000 inhabitants.
The protesters fear that the impact could increase because the plant is currently operating at only 40 percent of its capacity, and if it reaches 100 percent, as planned for December, the damage could be irreversible.
For this reason, they are asking the plant to find an alternative to eliminate the odors or, otherwise, to relocate it.
The Screwworm Sterile Fly Production Plant was inaugurated just last June following a joint investment by Mexico and the United States of $61 million to eradicate the pest affecting the region and the cattle trade between the two countries.
Source: jornada
