The Ulises Francisco Espaillat irrigation canal is full of waste that pollutes its waters that supply several aqueducts in the northwestern border provinces and are used by thousands of farmers. The problem is that the people who live along the canal, which begins in Santiago and goes through the western part of the city, throw all sorts of garbage into the canal.
The situation is at its most critical in the Cienfuegos area and parts of Villa Gonzalez, where old tires, plastics, vehicle parts, cement blocks and pieces of wood can be seen alongside the canal.
According to Cienfuegos farmer Juan Hidalgo, “we have even found bodies in the canal, and neither the officials of the Ministry of Environment nor the local city government or any other agency intervenes to prevent this environmental damage.”
The canal irrigation board is based in Esperanza and at no time have its members complained of this situation.
Recently, after restoring an extensive area that was affected by a landslide, the executive director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) Olgo Fernandez called on the municipal authorities to help prevent pollution of this key water supply system.
