Just days after it was announced that due to lack of water no more permits would be issued for building in one of the most in demand tourist areas, the Mayoral office has backtracked and said that “it is not necessary to stop construction.” Right!!

Downplaying the problem of over exploitation of the aquifer in Santa Cruz, the City Council has overturned the decision made days ago to prohibit the issuance of building permits in Tamarindo, Tempate and Cabo Velas, saying now that it is not necessary to stop building as solutions are being sought to the problem of water shortage affecting the area, as revealed by a report by the National Service for Groundwater, Irrigation and Drainage (Senara).

Nacion.com reports that “…The mayor said it was not necessary to stop the construction and downplayed the issue of over exploitation of the aquifer. In his view, the report by Senara is only one voice sounding the alarm. The municipal chief said they are working on solutions, without specifying what kind. ‘Who says you can not build? (…) Almost everything is full of water, they shouldn’t say that there is no water, there is water in Santa Cruz (…) We have to improve everything, that’s for sure, we are following up to fix everything but the water itself is there.'”

The decision to continue granting permits “… despite the agony of the main coastal aquifer and despite the serious risks that the Senara, AyA and Minae are warning of,” … was taken by the rulers during Tuesday’s session, which was attended by a group of investors concerned about the original intention of the municipality to curb new construction until water sources were renovated.”

Source: Nacion.com