The story of the La Guajira river that yesterday, out of nowhere, woke up without water and was like that for several hours

This decision considerably reduced the course of the Ranchería River, bringing it to minimum levels. According to the Regional Autonomous Corporation of La Guajira (Coporguajira), as an emergency measure, the valve of the diversion tunnel had to be opened to guarantee the minimum necessary operating flow and the ecological flow of the Ranchería River.

Corpoguajira was in El Cercado reviewing what happened the same day the events occurred. During the inspection, various points of critical importance were visited, together with delegates from the ADR, which included the review of the affected valve (EKN DN 2500), the diversion tunnel, as well as the discharge valves and the diversion dam.

“With respect to the hydrobiological resource of the Ranchería River, given the period of time that elapsed during the contingency and the manner in which the decrease in its flow occurred, downstream of the El Cercado reservoir, it was gradual, the ichthyofauna had a period of accommodation to the little flow that managed to exit through the diversion tunnel and the impacts generated were local in relation to the time of the emergency, therefore, no evidence of fish mortality was found in the section of the river from the El Cercado dam to the municipality. from Fonseca, passing through the municipality of Distraction,” said Corpoguajira.

In addition, Corpoguajira urged the ADR and the National Government to take specific measures, which allow immediate actions to be implemented to prevent future events that severely affect the hydrobiological resource of the Ranchería River and its use by the communities settled in the vicinity of this project.

Despite Corpoguajira’s analysis that indicated that there was no major impact on the river after being without water for several hours, the local community of the municipalities through which the waters of the Ranchería pass indicated the opposite. Armando Molina, councilor of the municipality of Distraction, spoke out pointing out that serious ecological damage had occurred.

“I strongly and categorically reject what happened today with our precious Ranchería River, whoever is responsible for this damage must be held accountable and that there are guarantees that this will not be repeated, because it is attacking the fauna and flora and would become in a public health problem. “The flow has already been restored, but this damage has to be severely punished,” Molina highlighted.

For his part, Miguel Arteaga, a resident of Distracción, reported that there had been a serious impact on the ecosystem and that the environmental corporation must take measures to recover the basin. “I have never seen the Ranchería River in this condition in my life. Closing the floodgates in this brutal way has been an irresponsible act. Taking responsibility for what I say, I classify this maneuver by the administrators of the El Cercado dam on the Ranchería River as a terrorist act against our fauna and flora. I also consider that these macroprojects are obliged to develop contingency plans from their design, anticipating that mechanical problems may arise and solve them without generating panic or environmental damage,” Arteaga highlighted.

Given this, Corpoguajira called on the community to remain calm. “It is possible that there may be decreases in flow as the river advances in its natural course to its mouth. However, it is important to note that it is expected that these declines will not have the same intensity as what occurred in the vicinity of the dam. Corpoguajira will continue to constantly monitor the situation to guarantee the sustainable management of the Ranchería River and the protection of the environmental environment of its basin,” added the environmental entity.

Eighteen years ago, in La Guajira, construction of the Río Ranchería Multipurpose Strategic Project began, an ambitious commitment to supply water to nine municipalities in the department and bring water to more than 354,000 inhabitants. This infrastructure was also to supply the vital liquid on a large scale for the irrigation of crops on 18,536 hectares and would allow the operation of a hydroelectric plant that would bring energy to some 3,000 homes.

And although this work, of which only a part was built, which is the El Cercado dam and some conduction lines, cost 650,209 million pesos and its first stage was completed in 2010, it currently does not fulfill any of those purposes that should benefit a population in which every year there are intense droughts, food shortages, and where water shortages generate humanitarian crises.

An investigation by the Comptroller General’s Office, known to this newspaper, documents how this work – which was to be developed by the defunct Colombian Institute of Rural Development (Incoder), liquidated for corruption – is currently almost a white elephant.

The Incoder audit revealed how the first phase of this project, which was completed in November 2010, managed to build the El Cercado dam and the main conduction lines of the Ranchería and San Juan irrigation districts. However, the mega-project is in a transition phase in which “its only function is to regulate the flow of the river, since it does not supply water to the aqueducts and the irrigation districts or the hydroelectric plant have not been built.”

Delays in the works have meant that the water resources of the Ranchería River cannot yet be used. The work has also generated new expenses to be able to preserve it while it can be useful. Between the years 2011 and 2016, five contracts have been signed to guarantee the security and conservation of the facilities and their equipment, which have cost 34,217 million pesos, “for a project that does not meet the purposes pursued by the investment made,” it says. The report.

For the Comptroller’s Office, these costs are worrying “if we take into account that there is no certainty about the date of completion of the missing works to complete the project (phase II), which is why the so-called transition phase can last for an indefinite period of time.” ”.