The ministers of Energy and the Environment did not appear before the Commission of Autonomous Governments to deliver information on Zaruma.
The Ministers of Energy, Juan Carlos Bermeo, and of the Environment, Gustavo Manrique, could be brought to impeachment if next week they do not appear before the Commission of Autonomous Governments of the Assembly to report on the actions carried out after the sinkhole in the canton of Zaruma registered in December 2021.
Both officials were called on January 12 along with three others, but none attended to deliver the information sought by the legislative board, which began an inspection process at the request of Assemblywoman Patricia Sánchez, from the Pachakutik block.
The Minister of Energy sent an excuse noting that the details and information on compliance with the attributions assigned to the Committee for the Remediation, Recovery and Productive Development of the Portovelo-Zaruma mining area are being treated by the Biodiversity and Natural Resources Commission of the National Assembly, to which he appeared on January 5 of this year, which was suspended and will be reinstated in the next few days.
Unanimously, the commission decided to call the officials again for the next week; but if they do not appear for the second time, article 76 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Function will be applied, where it is noted that if the official does not appear on the date and time set in the call or does not send the information, it will be grounds for prosecution. politician.
Legislator Sánchez presented a total of fourteen questions for five officials that are related to the actions carried out to remedy the population affected by the illegal mining activity of Zaruma, compensation for the damages caused to the victims, actions to prevent environmental contamination, procedures of control and supervision of illegal mining activity.
8 years of inaction puts Zaruma’s story at risk
The Minister of Energy, Juan Carlos Bermeo, will have to answer six questions about the implementation measures that were taken through a referendum in 2018, which prohibited metal mining in all its stages in protected areas, intangible areas and urban centers without exception.
In addition, provide information on the number of mining concessions granted after 2018 in Zaruma, criteria that led to the determination of the mining exclusion zone for the canton; the guarantees that were required from mining concessionaires to prevent their entry into the mining exclusion zone.
Instead, the Minister of Environment and Water, Gustavo Manrique, will have to report on the direct and indirect impacts caused by mining, especially gold, on the environment, water sources and air quality in the canton of Zaruma.
It will also have to explain the environmental pollution prevention actions that the Ministry of the Environment maintains as a result of gold mining and the application in mining in the country and especially in Zaruma. (I)
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