Illegal Housing Near
Rivers Threaten
Residents During Rainy
Season
Hundreds of residents of
Heredia and Desamparados
who live near rivers are
threatened by the
intense rains, concerned
with the risk of
suffering a tragedy.
Some 65 people living
near the Bermúdez river
in San Pablo de Heredia
have already been
evacuated. The
evacuation was prompted
by the Municipalidad de
Heredia to avoid seven
homes near the river
from converting into a
real tragedy, as the
families refused to
move.
The Municipalidad, in
along process, asked the
Ministerio de Vivienda
and the Instituto
Nacional de Vivienda y
Urbanismo (INVU) to act
to find the families a
new home and reduce the
risk of being victims of
the river.
Fernando Zumbado,
ministro de Vivienda,
said that a deal was
reached with the owner
of a 4 hectare farm
where a housing
development for the
affected, which will be
part of a 20 hectare
development.
In Desamparados
officials are concerned
of the number of houses
being built in areas
near the rivers which
are a total risk in the
event of a flood. The
force of the river is
also causing damage to
retaining walls and
neighbours are concerned
that their homes may be
affected if the river
takes down the illegal
houses.
The Municipalidad de
Desamparados has not
been sitting idle, it
has forced the closure
of a number of the
illegal homes, but the
residents have violated
the orders. In one case,
a construction company
building homes in a
risky area, and who was
ordered to shut down the
project, had not
submitted plans nor
applied for a building
permit, according to
Maureen Fallas, mayor of
Desamparados.
Fallas explained that
court action may be
necessary against the
builder if it does not
cease and desist
construction and did not
discard the possibility
of filing a complaint
before the Ministerio
Público. "If we have to
(charge them) we will",
said Fallas.
Each year many families
live the danger of
landslides, flooding and
raging waters causing
damage to their homes,
losing their belongings,
and worse their lives.
However, each year, the
same families do nothing
to prevent the danger
that is typical of the
rainy season.
Municipal authorities
are hard pressed as
financial resources to
relocate are scarce and
the legal process is
long and tedious.
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