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City government shuts down Bogota´s largest quarry

By Manuel Rueda, Editorial Director

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

In an effort to protect the Tunjuelo river in southern Bogota, the city´s secretariat for environmental affairs has shut down the Tunjuelo Mining Industrial Park.

Tunjuelo is one of 107 mining areas in Bogota, where companies extract sand and gravel from the ground to make construction materials like cement and bricks.

Only 7 of these mines have legal permits, including Tunjuelo.

But the secretariat decided to suspend mining activities at the site, because environmental investigations have proven that the mine –which has been active since the 1950s- has changed the course of the Tunjuelo river, diminished the flow of water, and polluted underground water reserves.

The city government says the suspension of activities will continue until companies operating at the site –Cemex, Holcim and Fundacion San Antonio- reduce the environmental impact of their work and obtain new permits to carry out their activities. 

The environment secretariat is also seeking to create a safety zone between the Tunjuelo mining area and the surrounding neighborhoods, which are estimated to hold some 2 million people.

“With this move,” said Environment Secretary Juan Antonio Nieto, “We have given a big blow to the mining sector. They must learn to obey the rules, through persuasion or through force.”