Allegations of 3.36 billion peso embezzlement in Mexico City drainage projects
Mexico City, July 20 – Members of Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) publicly denounced on Monday an alleged embezzlement of 3.36 billion pesos by the Mexico City government. The accusations are related to 318 drainage projects, which were announced in May to prevent flooding in the capital, particularly in the context of the World Cup.
During a press conference held in front of the Kiosco Morisco in Santa María la Ribera, Salomón Chertorivski, president of the National Consultative Council of Pensando en México, stated that the funds were allegedly diverted, causing damage to public finances. He asserted that the projects were either not carried out or failed to function effectively, despite their aim to mitigate inundations.
Formal complaint filed with the Comptroller General
Chertorivski, who was a candidate for Head of Government in the recent elections, confirmed that a formal complaint has been filed with the Comptroller General of Mexico City. “Today, we presented, and it has already been delivered and we have the received stamp from the Comptroller General of Mexico City, a complaint against Clara Brugada Molina for the possible diversion of resources and damage to public finances,” he declared.
He emphasized the widespread public knowledge of the city’s recurrent flooding. “We are not asking you to believe us; it is public knowledge that this city has been underwater, a city flooded in all its boroughs. We ask the Comptroller’s Office to investigate, with the information at hand, whether those 3.36 billion pesos were effectively spent and spent well. This is the least that the people who are still bailing water out of their homes today deserve,” Chertorivski stated.
Documented floods and affected areas
Since May, at least 89 floods have been documented, affecting dozens of residents. Significant patrimonial sites such as the Historic Center and Paseo de la Reforma, along with important thoroughfares like Avenida Chapultepec, Circuito Interior, Insurgentes, Periférico, Calzada de Tlalpan, Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza, and Viaducto, have been inundated.
Chertorivski presented two possible scenarios regarding the alleged mismanagement of funds. “There are only two possibilities here. The first, the money was spent, and the work clearly does not serve its purpose and did not mitigate anything. That is a planning failure, it is an execution failure, which the people of this city have already paid for with our taxes. The second is that the money was not spent. And if that happened, then there is a diversion of public resources. Neither of these alternatives is acceptable,” he explained.
Warning of further investments and call for clarification
Chertorivski also warned that the capital’s government has announced further multi-million dollar investments for drainage, which would total 7 billion pesos. While acknowledging the necessity of public works investment, he stressed the importance of clarifying the fate of the initial 3.36 billion pesos before proceeding with additional expenditures.
The complaint highlights concerns about transparency and accountability in public spending, particularly in projects designed to address critical urban infrastructure issues. The investigation by the Comptroller General is expected to shed light on the veracity of these allegations and the effectiveness of the drainage works in question.
Source: https://www.excelsior.com.mx/ciudad-de-mexico/acusan-desvio-3-mil-360-millones-pesos-cdmx
