San Francisco del Rincón, Gto. — Former México President Vicente Fox Quesada said that both Guanajuato and Jalisco authorities must agree to resolve the conflict which holds back the construction of an aqueduct that would bring water from “El Zapotillo dam” to the municipality of León.
“The issue is something that has already been agreed and it does not happen yet… Jalisco is sovereign and Guanajuato is sovereign, if there is no agreement between these states, Guanajuato will have to seek its water,” said Vicente Fox Quesada.
This happened after the government of Jalisco and the National Water Commission proceeded to deliver 140 kilometers of roads to the company Abengoa, which is in charge of building “El Zapotillo-León aqueduct“.
Fox Quesada said that this project for León is completely viable, since the state of Jalisco registers a surplus of water.
“It is indispensable for a city like León to have a water reserve brought from a place where there is a water surplus. But we have to solve it politically, “he said.
The former President added that if there was no agreement, it would not be “the end” for Guanajuato, and affirmed this state has a water reserve required for all residents. We need to use prudently this vital liquid and there are still many opportunities that the state could explore, he said.
140 kilometers were ceded by the National Water Commission and the government of Jalisco for the construction of that aqueduct. 100 kilometers of them are in the state of Jalisco and 40 belong to Guanajuato.
After the farmers and residents of the area showed resistance to the project, the authorities decided to build this aqueduct on the public roads, considering that it deprives them of the water with which they irrigate their crops.
“I expect they should agree in this matter, because they have to, but if not, it is not the end either,” said Vicente Fox Quesada.
Source: http://www.milenio.com/