Privatization - Mexico - Human rights commission reiterates call for suspension of Superv?a works

By Rebecca Conan?/?Business News Americas

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The Mexico City (DF) human rights commission, CDHDF, has again called for suspension of works on the Superv?a Poniente highway, pending completion of a public consultation.

Failure to carry out a public consultation contravenes procedural regulations and "puts the environment in serious danger" as experts have not had a chance to provide studies testifying to possible effects of the construction, said Luis Jim?nez, CDHDF representative.

This is CDHDF's second attempt to halt works, following a recommendation last year that works contravened a series of administrative laws and human rights (such as the right to water and the right to a healthy environment.)

The 6bn-peso (US$516mn) toll road will connect the city's Santa Fe business district with the Perif?rico elevated highway and is being built by a consortium comprised of Spanish firm OHL and Mexico's Copri. Works are expected to wrap by the end of this year.

The commission has no legal power to enforce its recommendation but a court case is ongoing. Last December a preliminary judgment cancelled the project's environmental permit for failure to carry out a public consultation. The DF government appealed the decision and a resolution is expected "within the next three months," said Jim?nez.

The DF government has continued to support the project and following the December ruling, the capital's mayor Marcelo Ebrard said "works are 30% complete, of course we are not going to halt them."

Large numbers of trees have been felled to make way for the toll road, and environmentalists claim the construction will affect local water reserves. Experts say the environmental mitigation works contained in the concession agreement are insufficient.

The DF government has also been criticized for directly assigning the project rather than carrying out a public tender. DF public works secretary Fernando Aboitiz admitted in February that the concession was directly awarded to avoid over-inflating the right of way purchase prices.

"The direct award was in accordance with the law, and ensured the project did not get [too pricey and] unaffordable," Aboitiz said.

The government and the consortium have so far managed to fend off all legal action against the project, but dissatisfaction at the project was evidenced by several spoiled votes during the recent mayoral election, where voters wrote "No to the Superv?a!"

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Source: http://member.bnamericas.com/news/privatization/human-rights-commission-reiterates-call-for-suspension-of-supervia-works

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