Cali
The Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Valley (CVC) spoke out about what is happening in the north of Cali and the reasons why, when it rains heavily, flooding with mudflats occurs.
The problems, as explained by the experts who visited the mountainous area, are mainly 4. Kevin Mauricio Orozco, a geologist from the Environmental Management Directorate of the CVC, states that the most relevant is the collapse of the hydraulic structures, since these , are obsolete due to the growth of the city.
It refers to the rupture of the canals that surround the middle area of the city’s mountains, such as the Centenario and Chipichape canals, which have already lost their useful life.
“The channels work in a dysfunctional way because they have already passed their useful life. Then they break and generate flows and concentration of flows that caused the subsequent damage,” says geologist Kevin Orozco.
Second, the invasions of some lands in the mountains and the lack of citizen culture such as the throwing of garbage in inappropriate places has contributed to the problem. During the inspection, says the CVC, mattresses, chairs and all types of garbage were found that obstruct the channels.
Thirdly, the rains concentrated in this area have weakened the terrain, “between 70 and 100 liters of water per square meter were recorded, which caused the urban drainage systems to clog.”
Finally, the loss of vegetation cover due to fires such as the one that occurred last year in the Chipichape sector has caused erosion and, in the face of heavy rains, drags mud from the hills.
Among the measures that should be taken, suggests geologist Kevin Orozco, is “the optimization of existing hydraulic systems, biomechanical works that stabilize slopes and, of course, increasing citizen culture from an environmental approach.”
It is clarified that reforestation is a measure that only has a long-term effect.
Meanwhile, the district administration is holding a risk council in which decisions will be made next Saturday when CVC and Dagma, as entities in charge, provide information on available resources from the environmental surcharge to carry out necessary works in the north. of Cali to mitigate the risk of upcoming floods, assured the Secretary of Risk Management, Jocelyn Danna Carrillo.
