COSTA RICA NEWS – Legislators Gerardo Vargas and Johnny Leyva are asking President Luis Guillermo Solís to declare a state of emergency for Pacific coast due to the drought that has gripped the provinces of Guanacaste and Puntarenas.
According to Vargas, they are waiting on the President to answer their request.
The legislator assures that the droughts will have a negative impact in the area, affecting energy and livestock, thus priority is a must.
“We are very concerned by the lack of attention by President Solís to the situation present in Puntarenas and Guanacaste, so we are asking for the government to declare a national emergency”, said the legislator.
President Solís is in Guanacaste this week, taking part in the anniversary celebrations that will take place tomorrow in the province, which will also include the traditional cabinet meeting.
On Wednesday the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) – national emergency commission – issued a yellow alert for Guanacaste.
According to the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – national weather service – this month the area has had only 1% of the expected rainfall.
According to the Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA) – water and sewer utility – there are 116 communities in Guanacaste, where some 37.000 people are without fresh water.
The AyA estimates that it will have to invest some US$35 million dollars to get the vital liquid to these communities.
For the president of the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA – Cámara de Turismo de Guanacaste), Priscilla Solano, “water infrastructure is number one, two and three.”
The drought is from the effects of El Niño phenomenon.
Sources: La Nacion, CRHoy
