DISCARDED: North-South route through Constanza. Pictured, Aguas Blancas falls.
Santo Domingo.- “A major ecological disaster" would be the result of the construction of a highway across the Central Mountains to link the southern San Juan and northern Santiago provinces.
Environment minister Ernesto Reyna said the road Piedra Blanca-Rancho Arriba- San José de Ocoa is the best route, because the option would harm the Cordillera Central protected area, called "Mother of the Waters" since it’s the source of most of the country’s rivers.
The official also noted that the population isn’t accustomed to caring for their surroundings, for which houses would soon sprout along the roadside. "These issues make it unfeasible, it would be an ecological disaster, a threat to the Dominican Republic."
Interviewed on the radio 95.7 FM, Reyna said progress is being made in the sector and noted that challenges will always surge, to mark World Environment Day today.
Written by: josean, 5 Jun 2012 2:29 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Another Hair Brain Narco Purple Idea to steal Multi Millions of Dollars like the METRO!
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... ((You're blind to the fact that you're blind))
"The official also noted that the population isn’t accustomed to caring for their surroundings, for which houses would soon sprout along the roadside"<--------------this says a lot about the government of the republic, lazy bastards think all this is like the infomertials that says " Set it and Forget it". Anything that would make the government do its job, regardless if its essential would be frowned upon. Instead of putting the blame on its inability to hire worthy employees, the government puts it on the citizens by saying they would destroy the place because shanties would pop up all over the place.
Enforce the laws and it wont happen.....
Imagine the votes they got because of the plan and now it disappears like a fart in the wind.
Written by: antonio1, 5 Jun 2012 7:18 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
“A major ecological disaster” ...what on earth is this son of beaches talking about? We built a highway right thought los Haitieses,,,,,,we are ready to inaugurate el Coral……so what the problem here????????
From: United States, Brooklyn
Build the Highway, expel the Haitians, and jails dominicans who dare trash our environment.
TOUGH LOVE!
Written by: RoyStone, 6 Jun 2012 7:35 AM
From: Australia
In this instance the government is absolutely correct - shanties would sprout up along the roadside with complete disregard for safety and even less concern for the environment. Fence off all catchment areas and expel everyone. Then the Dominican Republic might have a decent water supply, free from disease.
From: Dominican Republic
So it is people that is the problem with this road going through not the road it's self???
People building shops and home that should not be there that will make this “A major ecological disaster" .......???
So in stead of enforcing the laws to protect these areas they will just say "that the population isn’t accustomed to caring for their surroundings". Instead of enforce the laws they just wont build the road???
Just like all the river banks and forests that people aren't allow to build on... Without enforcing the laws these people will never respect their surroundings..... idiots...
Make them paying fines and having they building material taken may make them accustomed to respect the law....
Repeat offenders could be put to work replanting and cleaning rivers....
From: United States, Vivir sin Patria, es lo mismo que vivir sin Honor.
We should think about this twice before doing it, when you harm nature it is often irreversable.
Written by: RoyStone, 6 Jun 2012 8:31 AM
From: Australia
stillhere,
If the road is built the same way as the new road through the mountains to Constanza and Jarabacoa then the road itself would not be an environmental disaster. It is an excellent example of civil-engineering and an asset for the country, a pleasure to drive on and enjoy the magnificent scenery from the many vantage-points with safe parking.
However when it comes to enforcing the law, forget it. Police ignore breaches of road-laws happening right under their noses. They are not going to get of their asses and go looking in the countryside for breaches in environmental-laws.
Written by: Atabey, 6 Jun 2012 9:36 AM
From: United States, NYC
I agree with Roy. Enforcement is the key. Perhaps put a bounty for any shanty trying to gain hold along the road. Good roads are a must for DR's development. And communication needs are vast in these regions.
Urban renewal and the removal of those vast shanty towns along river banks are another major problem. But vast construction funding will be needed to develop housing for these poorer members of society.
Lots of needs, many basic still.............to correct. But only a growing economy with solid macro-economic stability and good fiscal control will see us through the difficult road ahead. Rome wasn't built in one day.
Written by: RonEvane 
, 6 Jun 2012 10:06 AM
From: United States, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Isn't there an environmental agency? in charge of, (among many other tasks), enforcing the law/ making sure squatters don't take root?
How do they figure in this scenario?
Written by: airgordo, 6 Jun 2012 6:09 PM
From: Dominican Republic
ANOTHER stupid project!!! the Highway North-South IS ALREADY MADE!! is called the international highway and goes parallel to the border!! just FIX that one, you don't have to re-invent the F@cking wheel CUTTING the BIGGEST national park on this country!! ...even Balaguer respected that for heaven's sake!!!
From: United States
the new road to Constanza has major home construction right along the highway already.
Written by: airgordo, 10 Jun 2012 10:01 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Nice! that is exactly what would happen if they built this road
Written by: RoyStone, 10 Jun 2012 11:02 AM
From: Australia
Make it a tourist road with a theme - "The wild, lawless frontier!" (won't need to change much)
Give the tourists six-shooters with live rounds - should solve the feral squatter-housing environmental problem.
Smaller
Bigger
Close Gallery
Facebook
Digg this
del.icio.us
Technorati
Yahoo
Another Hair Brain Narco Purple Idea to steal Multi Millions of Dollars like the METRO!
Enforce the laws and it wont happen.....
Imagine the votes they got because of the plan and now it disappears like a fart in the wind.
TOUGH LOVE!
So it is people that is the problem with this road going through not the road it's self???
People building shops and home that should not be there that will make this “A major ecological disaster" .......???
So in stead of enforcing the laws to protect these areas they will just say "that the population isn’t accustomed to caring for their surroundings". Instead of enforce the laws they just wont build the road???
Just like all the river banks and forests that people aren't allow to build on... Without enforcing the laws these people will never respect their surroundings..... idiots...
Make them paying fines and having they building material taken may make them accustomed to respect the law....
Repeat offenders could be put to work replanting and cleaning rivers....
If the road is built the same way as the new road through the mountains to Constanza and Jarabacoa then the road itself would not be an environmental disaster. It is an excellent example of civil-engineering and an asset for the country, a pleasure to drive on and enjoy the magnificent scenery from the many vantage-points with safe parking.
However when it comes to enforcing the law, forget it. Police ignore breaches of road-laws happening right under their noses. They are not going to get of their asses and go looking in the countryside for breaches in environmental-laws.
I agree with Roy. Enforcement is the key. Perhaps put a bounty for any shanty trying to gain hold along the road. Good roads are a must for DR's development. And communication needs are vast in these regions.
Urban renewal and the removal of those vast shanty towns along river banks are another major problem. But vast construction funding will be needed to develop housing for these poorer members of society.
Lots of needs, many basic still.............to correct. But only a growing economy with solid macro-economic stability and good fiscal control will see us through the difficult road ahead. Rome wasn't built in one day.
Isn't there an environmental agency? in charge of, (among many other tasks), enforcing the law/ making sure squatters don't take root?
How do they figure in this scenario?
Give the tourists six-shooters with live rounds - should solve the feral squatter-housing environmental problem.