Puerto Morelos, Q.R. — The first district court in Yucatan granted a provisional suspension against the activities of transporting porphyrite rock for the Maya Train. The judge has prohibited the transporting of the Cuban rock material over protected natural areas.
The suspension was granted as a result of the denunciation of various environmental groups for the damage caused to the reefs of the Mexican Caribbean biosphere reserve by vessel Melody.
Melody arrived in early March from Cuba with a 20,000 ton load of stone that requires unloading at sea for land transportation through Puerto Morelos.
The opposing groups also filed an Amparo lawsuit against the construction of a road, which they accuse, would have been built over mangrove. The alternative road was set for construction next to Avenida José María Morelos and was to be used to transport the other arriving vessels from Cuba, which is to last into December.
According to the group who filed the complaint, they were unaware of the existence of any environmental impact authorization for these activities on protected natural areas and in the Puerto Morelos National Reef Park.
They also said that there is no authorized change of land use for the construction of any alternative road over the mangrove, adding that the mangrove is protected by the General Law of Wildlife.
Armando Lara De Nigris, the Secretariat for Sustainable Urban Territorial Development (Sedetus), says they have not been notified of any suspensions regarding the unloading of the ship, therefore, it will continue.
On Wednesday afternoon, Governor Mara Lezama said that for the time being, the unloading of the stone material will likely continue at least until Friday. By then, she said the government will have the details regarding the Amparos.
According to Lara De Nigris, approximately half of the 20,000 ton load of vessel Melody has been unloaded.
