Up to $850 fine for polluting Quito streams; authorities warn that sanctions are not enough

The streams of the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ) were declared in 2012 natural, historical, cultural and landscape heritage, this is stated in Resolution C350. However, the discharge of debris, garbage and other polluting elements It has harmed the fauna and vegetation of these places.

From the Metropolitan Control Agency (AMC) they reported that the Municipal Code establishes two types of economic sanctions for polluting streams.

This newspaper consulted with the Secretary of the Environment of Quito on the number of streams in the MDQ and those that are in a critical state of contamination. From the entity they responded that there are 182 streams, but they do not know how many are contaminated.

The first is a fine of 50% of a unified basic remuneration, that is, $ 212,50 “to those who occupy, deposit or maintain construction materials and rubble in public space”.

The second points out that the contamination with waste in the streams or rivers of the city will be punished with two unified basic salaries, $850. For the application of this sanction they depend on a report issued by the Ministry of the Environment. For example, when a factory allocates its waste to a river, the entity collects the evidence and sends it to the control entity so that it proceeds with the sanctioning initiation act.

According to information from the AMC, from October 1, 2021 to the present they have issued 96 startup acts. They also stressed that the Greater demand of these acts occurs in the zonal administrations of La Delicia and Calderon.

The concilor Fernando Morales He pointed out that this is a shared task between municipal authorities and citizens. “There is a lack of greater relationship with the community to raise awareness of respect and care for the streams. We must start with an exercise of sincerity with all the neighbors and hold much broader work meetings, where all the sectors involved know the impact of not taking care of these spaces”, he argued.

The mayor also argued that the problem generates serious consequences with the surrounding properties to these areas, therefore, the need for the citizens themselves to become protectors of its nearby streams.

for councilor Juan Manuel Carrion the heritage declaration is valid, but It has not had the necessary strength to be respected. According to the mayor, the fines they are not the best option to take care of the creeks since the offenders, for the most part, come at night, when there is no necessary control.

He pointed out that it is necessary to create a Quebradas Execution Unit, this would bring together all the municipal security entities in order to obtain greater results.

He also highlighted that the Land Use and Management Plan (PUGS), approved by the Council, identifies the entire system of streams as an ecological protection zone, that is to say, already it will not be possible to build or fill in these spaces and they will have the protection benefits that areas with these characteristics have.

“We must create a aggressive education campaign to demonstrate that these streams keep a natural heritage extraordinary, with diversity of flora and fauna unique, which make these spaces true natural treasures”, Carrión pointed out.

One of the options, he declared, could be the initiative for Quito to be declared a Geopark by UNESCO, this would promote the creation of strategies to publicize and respect these natural spaces. (I)