Calakmul residents assert that AMLO made unfulfilled promises to them

In the heart of Mexico's Campeche state, the residents of Calakmul recently staged a 12-hour blockade on the Escarcega-Chetumal highway, protesting the lack of water in several locations, including Xpujil.

The blockade was a response to the persistent water shortage in the region, with Xpujil being one of the hardest-hit locations. The residents claimed they were deceived by the promise of an unfinished and abandoned aqueduct, supposedly inaugurated by President López Obrador.

Representatives from the State Government, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), and the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) were involved in the operation of the López Mateos-Xpujil aqueduct and the construction of a new structure to address the issue.

To alleviate the water crisis, several measures have been put in place. Water supply will be periodically provided through the Heriberto Jara recoil aqueduct-km 120 and in networks of each locality. In cases where the network does not reach a specific location, a citizen proposal for water to be distributed in the network through a sump will be implemented.

The State Secretariat of Government will supply six electric power generators, one for each well, to pump the water out. The electric power generating plants will be delivered starting Monday, April 22nd, for their respective installation.

However, the municipal president did not show up to meet the demands of the protesters. To ensure transparency, no repressive measures will be taken against those who participated in the demonstration and road closure from any of the three levels of Government.

To optimise water distribution during the dry season, each colony has been assigned a pipe. Water distribution in the local network will occur at least two days per week. It has also been decided that water will not be sold to individuals if the supply to the sump is irregular, but only to purifying water plants to guarantee supply for human consumption.

After 29 hours of road blockade, agreements were reached, and the blockade was removed. The CFE needs to regularize its service in the upstream area to avoid constant failures, ensuring a stable water supply for the residents of Calakmul.

Despite the governor of Campeche not being explicitly named in the available search results in relation to the Ukraine war, it is important to note that Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas was governor of Campeche until June 2019, and then Carlos Miguel Aysa González took office afterward. The current governor as of recent years is Layda Sansores.

This development marks a significant step towards resolving the water crisis in Calakmul, demonstrating the power of community action and government collaboration.