The Comptroller General of the Republic revealed that after a report from the Directorate of Information, Analysis and Immediate Reaction (DIARI), it was learned that more than $100 billion had disappeared in Chocó Aqueduct projects.
The entity indicated that these projects had been financed with international and national cooperation resources.
“Regarding the “All for the Pacific” Program, started on March 1, 2011, with financing of $103,109,422,283 by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Ministry of Housing, what there is is a shameful failure,” said acting comptroller Carlos Mario Zuluaga.
-He highlighted that DIARI found that there are more than $100 billion missing and abandoned projects in a fundamental area for the citizens of one of the poorest departments in the country.
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The report showed that within this project, contract 015 of 2016 with the Obras Chocó Consortium allocated $42,185,639,387 for the construction of six aqueducts, however, only one is operating today.
“But the negligence goes much further, since DIARI found four projects that, although completed, do not work due to structural failures in pumping houses, storage tanks and distribution networks. All of these projects were completed between 2017 and 2021, but are currently unusable”, Indian.
“The Comptroller General’s Office draws attention to the deplorable situation in the municipality of Istmina, with two phases of the aqueduct project valued at more than $41,000 million, both suspended for years: phase I, part of the “All for the Pacific” program , was suspended in April 2021 due to non-compliance, and “Phase II presents a progress of only 33.14%, with multiple suspensions due to disastrous planning”said.
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He noted that this control body makes an urgent call to the entities involved to coordinate efforts and resolve these problems.
“It is imperative to deliver these aqueducts to the population of Chocó to meet their basic needs and reduce inequality gaps,” claimed the acting comptroller, pointing out that the report “highlights the inability and possible acts of corruption that have left an entire region without access to drinking water, despite the monumental economic injection provided for these projects.”
He stressed that causes were detected such as:
– Serious flaws in the initial formulation.
– Poor administrative management by the municipalities and executing entities: Pereira and Aguas del Chocó Aqueduct and Sewer Company.
– Violence and intimidation by illegal armed groups.
– Non-compliance by contractors: Aguas Chocó Consortium and Obras Chocó Consortium INICO SAS.
-Deterioration and complete abandonment of the works.
-Istmina exemplifies the deterioration and lack of operation.
