The works to divert the water flows are scheduled to begin on Saturday and to end on March 6th. The demonstrators demanded this measure to be halted. Real World Radio’s correspondent in Colombia, Danilo Urrea, member of CENSAT Agua Viva-Friends of the Earth Colombia, reported on the situation. He was present at the demonstration.

El Quimbo would flood 7300 hectares and approximately 800 families would be displaced from their territories. According to the local population, the dam (owned by Emgesa, a subsidiary of transnational companies Endesa and Enel) will affect the economic, environmental, cultural and social life of the communities of the area. The inhabitants defend their lifestyles in the rural area and do not want to become workers of the dams, as the government tries to impose on them. The social organizations and movements that reject El Quimbo also say that there are many irregularities surroundung the project.

The action outside the Environment Ministry is part of a series of mobilizations called by the Association of People Afected by El Quimbo Dam (ASOQUIMBO) from February 28th to this Saturday.

Photo: http://www.censat.org/