Although the Regional Council of Arequipa has already approved addendum 13 of the Majes Siguas II project and paved part of the way for its resumption, there are still sectors that are unhappy with the model of the irrigation work. The most recent sample was the strike in Caylloma for land request. For the former Minister of Economy, Luis Miguel Castilla, these demands could be addressed, but without affecting the agro-export scheme.
“What is needed is political leadership. Everything that could be done has already been done and there will always be some dissatisfied populations with respect to asking the project for more (…) If there is an aspiration of the population to access these lots (land), there may be some mechanism, but without distorting the way the project was proposed, otherwise, the region would be losing a great opportunity”, declared Castilla yesterday, who arrived in Arequipa to present the Proposals for the Bicentennial initiative.
The former minister pointed to Majes Siguas II as a work to reactivate the economy of Arequipa. He recalled that the model of the project is one of large-scale agriculture, therefore the plots have a minimum of 200 hectares.
As it is recalled, in the last strike in Caylloma, the platform of struggle asks that 30% of the lands of Majes Siguas II be for residents of the province, an area where the Angostura dam and irrigation will be located. This order comes from at least five years ago. Last Thursday the force measure was lifted with the condition of setting up a dialogue table with the Regional Government.
“Solutions (to the claims) can be seen, but without distorting and without politicizing. If one compares it with Majes I, alfalfa planting with low yield and low productivity prevailed there. The important thing is not to make mistakes”, remarked Castilla.
political noise
During his presentation, the former Minister of Economy also referred to the political moment that the country is going through. He considered that Peru will not be able to withstand five years of polarization between the Executive and Congress. He emphasized that both parties must seek a solution that respects the constitutional framework.
In addition, he believed that the government should focus on promoting private investments that generate jobs, in productive activities such as mining. He referred that this could be a way to face the inflation produced by the convulsive international scenario, which is now going through a war in Ukraine and outbreaks of COVID-19 in China.
ANA and ProInversión will evaluate requests
The manager of the Autonomous Authority of Majes (Autodema), Arturo Arroyo, indicated that the requests of the Front for the Defense of the Interests of the Province of Caylloma will be consulted with various entities. He referred that the request for a water canon for the use of water for Majes Siguas II, will be sent to the National Water Authority (ANA). While the request for 30% of the land of the 38,500 hectares for the project will have to be consulted with ProInversión. This entity will be in charge of the auction of the modules.
Regarding the repair of the mother channel, Arroyo said that the terms of reference of the file for the commissioning of the Majes I infrastructure are being prepared.
Regarding the signing of addendum 13, there is still no date. Arroyo assured that there are no problems with the delay and that it is only a matter of reaching an agreement with the Cobra concessionaire.
Source: Larepublica
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