| Work Detail |
Faced with the paralysis of public works at the national level, the Government of Mendoza decided to finance 11 key projects in housing, water and sanitation infrastructure with provincial resources. These works, which were initially financed by the national State, will require an investment of more than $50,000 million, without a clear perspective of reimbursement by the Nation. Last week, Governor Alfredo Cornejo handed over housing in Santa Rosa, in a neighborhood developed under the national program Reconstruir, which stopped receiving national funds. In this context, the State of Mendoza assumed 100% of the financing for its completion. “These neighborhoods were financed by the national State, but the new administration decided to cancel that financing. The province, in agreement with the municipalities, assumed the completion with its own resources,” explained Cornejo. The Undersecretariat of Infrastructure confirmed that Mendoza took control of six housing projects that were financed by the Provincial Housing Institute (IPV) and five water and sanitation projects that were under the jurisdiction of the dissolved National Entity for Water and Sanitation Works (Enohsa). Although an agreement was signed with the Nation for the completion of the houses with a committed contribution of $2,000 million, to date only $200 million have been received, so the province continues with the execution of the works. The sanitation works include the Colonia Segovia-El Paramillo sewage collector, the renovation of the sewage collector between Elpidio González and Estrada, the expansion of the National Wastewater Treatment Plant and the expansion of the Balloffet Potable Water Plant, both in San Rafael. The Northern Foothills Drinking Water Production and Supply System is also under development, intended to supply the neighborhoods of El Challao and the west of Las Heras. The financing of these projects comes from the general revenues of the province and, according to the Undersecretary of Infrastructure and Territorial Development, Mendoza will continue with the efforts to obtain reimbursement from the Nation. However, the short-term outlook is not optimistic. As for road infrastructure, Mendoza is in talks with the National Highway Authority to reactivate the dual carriageway of Route 40 in Lavalle, which is currently paralyzed. On the other hand, the Palmira Variant, key for truck traffic in Greater Mendoza, is still under construction with payments up to date, while the reconstruction of the fallen bridges on Route 40 towards Tunuyán is moving forward with national financing. With these decisions, Mendoza seeks to guarantee the continuity of essential works for the province, despite the withdrawal of funding by the national government. The challenge now will be to sustain investment and seek alternatives to recover the resources allocated to these projects. |
