The federal government has shut down a construction site on the outskirts of Mérida on the grounds that an environmental impact statement had not been filed.
The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection, or Profepa, stopped work on the Kantara residential complex built on lowland rainforest in Dzidzilché.
In a statement, the Profepa reported that work did not have the authorization of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) on Environmental Impact Assessment and Land Use Change.
Profepa cited the removal of forest vegetation on the property and the presence of heavy machinery for work of clearing and leveling of land.
Developers face massive fines, up to 20,000 times the minimum wage, when on the wrong side of environmental regulators.
Here is a video, provided by the developer, of the project’s early stages:
