Tulum, Q.R. — During his weekend visit to the state, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced possible inauguration dates of several key projects including that of the Tulum International Airport.
The news came as a surprise for many after the October 27 publication that the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena), who were tasked with its construction, had withdrawn from the project.
Days after the publication, the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) released an official statement calling the published information “manipulated”. In their statement, the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources said “the project is in the process of evaluating its environmental impact and at no time has it been stated that it is unfeasible.
“The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources informs about the construction of the Civil Military Air Base and International Airport in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, which will connect with the current highway system and with the Maya Train to facilitate the transfer of people, goods and services to the south of the Riviera Maya, with emphasis on the Playa del Carmen – Tulum – Chetumal corridor.
“The project is in the process of evaluating the environmental impact to ensure that the studies and/or technical works that are being carried out comply with environmental regulations and applicable ordinances, and that the necessary and sufficient mitigation and compensation measures are established to avoid ecological imbalances in the region.
“In this regard, the federal agency considers it important to clarify that the official letter that has been disseminated through publications on some social networks is part of one of the administrative procedures that Semarnat resolves in response to the procedures requested by both public and private promoters.
“However, it should be noted that at no time does the official letter issued by Semarnat qualify the Tulum airport project as unfeasible, so it is considered that the published information was manipulated, as well as the official document presented, for which reason it could incur an action that constitutes a crime as stipulated in the Federal Penal Code.
“In the publications there is no reference to the fact that the project has a new active evaluation procedure, entered on September 15 of the present, and that it is being evaluated by this Secretariat.
“The purpose of clarifying this misinformation in a timely manner is to avoid confusion in public opinion and guarantee the transparency with which the Government of Mexico conducts itself.”
Over the weekend, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador toured sections 4 and 5 of the Maya Train. While in Quintana Roo, he was also given an update as to the progress of the Tulum airport.
Before he left, he met with Governor Mara Lezama and announced “that in three weeks, the possible inauguration dates of the section of the Maya Train Cancun – Escárcega and the works of the Felipe Carrillo Puerto de Tulum airport could be announced.”