Parque Tho’: Altabrisa residents ask INAH to suspend municipal construction work

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Yucatán should take measures such as definitively suspending the work that the Mérida City Hall intends to carry out at the Tho’ Park since the site is cultural heritage, said Rubén Presuel Polanco, president of the Altabrisa Neighborhood Association.

He stated that this is a delicate issue because the site where the work began is declared a cultural heritage site and is under the protection of INAH.

“To put heavy machinery and dismantle in this area is irregular,” he added. He also said that the Mérida City Hall did not present the plan to INAH and even so they put heavy machinery in a wooded area and dismantled it, in a hurry to legalize the exchange of property 460.

He emphasized that the institute should take the necessary measures, one of which is to suspend the work definitively and file an administrative report. “It should act with the full weight of the law, place closure seals and require the responsible party,” he stressed.

INAH approach

Residents of the area have sought a rapprochement with INAH, in response to which they have been told that they will be attentive to ensure that what can be done under their rules is respected.

He shared that another polygon, one of three hectares, located in the center of Altabrisa, the INAH has just ordered that it also be declared cultural patrimony, and so the municipal government must comply with that order.

As for the lawsuit 310/479 filed with the Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa), in which the habitat and ecosystem of more than 150 species were damaged, it is still in process.

“Profepa unfortunately has many cases in Yucatán and has a qualification process, it is analyzing, we are waiting for it to order the inspection visit and to show them the evidence of what happened there,” he commented.

He also said that Mayor Renan Barrera Concha believes he is the authority and permits himself, but forgets that there is an authority at the federal level, in this case INAH or Semarnat, and overlooks them.

Finally, he shared that the works are currently stopped, but they are pending that they are not resumed because there are legal processes underway.

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