Drought in Valle Alto: evidence of scarcity; Punata announces emergency

Wells dry up in that municipality. In Cliza, they perceive that each year the resource is less. In Arbieto, the agricultural part is the one that feels the most affectation.

In Punata wells are drying up and they will declare an emergency due to lack of water. In Cliza, there are communities that feel that every year the resource is less. In Arbieto, the agricultural part is the one that perceives the most affectation and they also warn of shortages.

As in other areas, the scarcity of water also affects the municipalities of the Valle Alto de Cochabamba.

In previous days, Sacaba declared an emergency due to the water crisis and rationing also begins in municipalities such as Tiquipaya. In the Southern Cone, one of the regions where the drought is constant, there are even cattle at risk and people receive less water.

This Wednesday, OPINION toured different municipalities of Valle Alto.

PUNATA

The Sulti lagoon, in the Chirusi Rosario area, has a more arid aspect every year. At this time, it just seems dry. It has cracked soil, although the birds that are in the area feed on insects and fish that still exist in the kind of puddles that are exposed.

This is a sign that the drought is getting harder every year in municipalities like Punata.

The mayor of Punata, Jaime Zeballos, reported yesterday that, due to the lack of water, his municipality will declare an emergency.

“Last year, we have had very little rainfall. It has not rained as it used to rain in previous years; therefore, Punata is going to declare a state of emergency. We are currently compiling information, making reports from the different communities and OTBs (territorial base organizations) of our municipality. Several water wells have dried up.”

The authority described that they identified that at least five wells dried up.

With the declaration of emergency, through municipal law, they will ask for help from the Government and from ministries and vice ministries such as Civil Defense.

The Mayor said that 80% of Punata would be affected, “except the northeast sector of La Villa.” He described that the lack of water would affect four districts.

The Chirusi lagoon is almost dry, at present. Zeballos regretted that the low flows also affect La Angostura.

On the shores of this glass of water there were, in previous years, pools for raising fish such as carp. Yesterday, only a small pond was identified, to where they pump water because there is almost no more.

CLIZA

In the Islas Malvinas community of Cliza, producers feel the effects of the lack of water. It is an area close to the Sulti lagoon, towards the border with Punata.

Álvaro Rocha is an agricultural producer. He described that corn, broad beans and potatoes are grown in this sector, among others.

“But, in this time of drought there are no crops. We are also affected.”

He noted that in 2022 there was planting; but, less than in previous years, when the irrigation was greater. He maintained that each year less water arrives.

“Now, there is no cattle, there are no pastures or alfalfa. The drought is hurting us. There is less and less water. We are asking the Mayor’s Office to send us irrigation”.

Before, the waters that reached Sulti later fed La Angostura. Another factor that affects this glass of water is that the construction of other dams decreases the flow.

ARBIETO

Meanwhile, in Arbieto they also begin to perceive the scarcity.

“We are seeing problems with droughts, above all in the agricultural parts, which would be in some communities of District 3 (near La Angostura) that are dedicated mainly to the agriculture of corn, potatoes and some vegetables. Yes, there is a shortage of water, recently”.

The municipal authorities are already seeking support from Videci and the Governor’s Office, in addition to future projects, such as irrigation systems.

In Cliza, most of the communities have wells. The Mayor’s Office carries out monthly evaluations of the flows.

“This year. It is going down because we are recently entering what is a drought. It is drying up little by little, but we are still evaluating.”

Abasto cited District 3 as an example. He said that there, 70% still have water; meanwhile, a 50% would already be entering the drought.

“People already know about this situation too and, therefore, they paralyze everything. Now, they dedicate themselves to the slash and burn, they are going to start, seeing according to what they have programmed,” he said, referring to the agricultural calendar.

They plan to start planting in September.

“No matter what, the water will go down, even more. We are seeing that”, he maintained, and made reference to the lower reservoir of the La Angostura dam.

In the neighborhoods they have tanks that are supplied with water from cisterns.