Political and administrative disputes must be put aside in the face of the ecological and public health impact that we are facing. Unity must be sought to move the Río de Oro Plant forward.
For decades, the Río de Oro has become one of the most polluted in Colombia and that is why it has been a reference when talking about processes of environmental degradation, affecting not only the inhabitants of Girón and Bucaramanga, but also those downstream. and are part of the Lebrija River basin.
Persistent bad odors and severe environmental impact are just a few signs of a larger problem that requires an immediate solution: the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The need for the Río de Oro Ptar is unquestionable. This project, in addition to being an ecological imperative, is a matter of public health, since the pollution levels have reached such magnitude that the negative effects on the quality of life of citizens are palpable and worrying, since we cannot continue ignoring the diseases derived from a contaminated environment.
The recent controversy over the inclusion of the project in Governor Juvenal Díaz’s Development Plan has generated justified concern in public opinion. The representative to the Chamber for the Green party, Cristian Avendaño, has indicated that the departmental administration excluded the Río de Oro Wastewater Treatment Plant from its road map, despite having been included in the National Development Plan. This contradiction, which the governor himself denies, leaves open the question about the true political will to address this environmental crisis.
The president has affirmed that the Río de Oro WWTP is contemplated in his plan, although in a general way along with other water projects in the department, which shows the lack of concreteness and sows well-founded doubts about the real commitment to the initiative, regarding all because the magnitude of the problem and the large number of people it affects demands a forceful and well-defined response, instead of the ambiguities that are now being observed.
The estimated cost to build the WWTP is close to one billion pesos, a sum that represents more than half of Bucaramanga’s budget and shows the need for a joint effort from all political, administrative and environmental levels to secure resources and execute the project.
Political and administrative disputes must be put aside in the face of the ecological and public health impact that we are facing. We cannot allow a repeat of the past, where political interests and the lack of coordination of entities slowed down the development of this project. The unity of all the actors involved is crucial to overcome obstacles and materialize a solution that will benefit hundreds of thousands of people.
It is time for words to become concrete actions, since the environmental future and the health of the inhabitants of Girón and western Bucaramanga and Floridablanca depend on the will and commitment of their leaders.
The Río de Oro WWTP is not just an infrastructure project, it is a commitment to a healthier and more sustainable future. History will judge this generation of leaders by their ability to respond to this challenge with determination and responsibility.
