Head of Conagua explains the new water reform

Efraín Morales López, head of Conagua, explained to “Los Periodistas” that the central objective of the new water reform is to restore the State’s stewardship over this resource, recognize it as a human right and eliminate its commercialization, prioritizing human consumption and food production.

Mexico City, December 2 (However).– Efrain Morales Lopezgeneral director of the National Water Commission (Conagua), explained in an interview with “The Journalists” the central axes of the proposal reform of the National Water Lawwhich seeks to reverse the “merchandise” character that the water resource acquired after the salinist law of 1992.

Morales López addressed in the program However On Air the accusations of the opponents and the criticisms of the producers, clarifying which fundamental aspects will be modified and which are the misinformation that circulates on the subject.

The director of Conagua pointed out that the bill focuses on restoring the right to the people of Mexico. In that sense he emphasized:

“The center of the initiative is to reverse [esto]”With this new law, restore their rights to the people of Mexico and ensure that water stops being seen as a commodity and that access is recognized and facilitated for human consumption by all.”

Efraín Morales indicated that the main structural change of the reform lies in eliminating the ability of individuals to negotiate concession titles among themselves, with the State regaining full control over the resource.

“What we are establishing as the main change in the law is that a sale of concessions between individuals can no longer be carried out,” explained Morales López. “Let the Mexican State, under a strategic vision, be the only one in charge of carrying out the delivery of water through concession titles.”

The federal official said that this new state leadership will guarantee human consumption; It will ensure sufficient water for food production, and it will guarantee water for projects that promote national development.

The director of Conagua also clarified the “concerns” and “a lot of misinformation” that has been generated around the proposal, particularly among agricultural producers.

He argued that it is totally false that a producer cannot inherit his land or that he cannot sell it while retaining the concession title for the new owner. Morales López clarified that “the society of land and water is an indivisible society” and that the aspects of inheritance have been “fully clarified to give complete certainty, especially to agricultural producers.”

Regarding the accusations that the opinion promotes the privatization of hydraulic works or the water and sanitation system, the official pointed out: “That is totally false. We do not include any chapter that has to do with privatization. Nowhere in the law does it say that.”

When asked about who are the major beneficiaries of the 1992 neoliberal law who now oppose the reform, the director of Conagua identified the “hoarders.”

“These are the same people who, under the protection of public power and political power, carried out water hoarding and made water a private business against the majority,” he stated. As examples of those who are defending “the abuse, the privilege and the advantage in which they were able to place themselves during the neoliberal system,” he mentioned the case of the former governor of Chihuahua César Duarte and families like the LeBarón.

The opinion of the new law, the product of more than 500 meetings and dialogue forums, is already being discussed in committees of the Chamber of Deputies. Quick approval is expected, so that it later reaches the Senate where it will have to be discussed and voted on.

“We hope that in a couple of days it can be discussed in plenary and approved,” said Morales López, noting that the idea is for the initiative to be approved during this period of sessions so that President Claudia Sheinbaum can promulgate it and the country “will have a new law to start the year.”