In Santa Marta, in the Pozos Colorados sector, near the beaches of Bello Horizonte and just 10 minutes from the Simón Bolívar International Airport, an exclusive condominium reportedly ordered the demolition of part of a mangrove forest with the aim of having more beach space , as reported by that city councilor Miguel Martínez Olano. This is the Cabo Tortuga Marine Condominium, a project by the construction company Arias, Serna Saravia, which has 121 residential and apartment units ranging from 164 M2 and can cost more than 2.7 billion pesos.
According to Councilor Martínez, in a recent Council session, as coastal erosion is “swallowing” the beach in front of the condominium, it appears that the building’s administrators have made the decision to use machinery to cut down the mangrove forest that, among other things, it is key to prevent erosion from continuing its path and allowing the sea to reach the building.
In the videos you can see how, using heavy machinery, the mangrove is destroyed, which is key to protecting the building from coastal erosion.
Photo:Private file
“The mangrove is being devastated by this resort that is here in the Pozos Colorados sector. As we see in the images, heavy machinery is brought onto the beach destroying the mangrove forest, which is what protects us from coastal erosion. The mangrove is nothing more and nothing less the only thing that stops the sea from eating the beach, and then we are complaining,” said Martínez during the Council session.
In several videos presented by the lobbyist, it is possible to see how, using a loader-type machine, the forest is destroyed and the way to a beach space is made in an area that, according to the complaint, would have been concessioned by the General Maritime Directorate. (Dimar) so that the condominium could have chairs, tables and beach furniture there for its residents.
It is not the first time that the Cabo Tortuga Marine Condominium has been in the eye of the hurricane. As EL TIEMPO learned, this project was widely questioned for not respecting construction limits regarding the distance from the beach to start the project. Furthermore, they have been questioned because, through the concession of 8,489 m2 of beach area, low-tide land and public maritime waters, delivered by Dimar, they have converted the beach area into an area of “private” enjoyment.
“Let us remember that Cabo Tortuga was a controversial project, built on the beach, which did not respect the fifty meters of beach from the sea shore that must be had in Colombia and today with coastal erosion the sea is recovering its territory and they They obtained a permit to let them use that condominium exclusively. Since the sea has been eating the beach, they are now cutting down the mangrove that is there,” adds Martínez.
In that sense, the councilor pointed out that this Thursday he will propose that a control debate be held where they hope to summon the Government Secretariat of Santa Marta, Dimar and the District Administrative Department of Environmental Sustainability (Dadsa), which is the environmental authority. of the city, to ask them what measures are being taken in response to this complaint. In addition, the Delegate Attorney General’s Office for Environmental and Agrarian Affairs will also be invited to alert them about this problem.
When consulted by EL TIEMPO, the General Maritime Directorate indicated that the Port Captain’s Office will carry out an inspection in the area tomorrow. A team of coastal inspectors will travel to the area early in the day to verify the activities carried out and confirm whether or not there is an impact on the mangroves, as well as a verification of the concession, in case there was any modification or affectation to the concession area.
EDWIN CAICEDO
Environment and health journalist
@CaicedoUcros
