The  lake level has already  moved inside the fence. Photo: Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal)– «Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera» charges that the Urrea family in Ajijic has once again erected an illegal fence in Federal land along the shoreline of Lake Chapala. The activist group is now preparing complaints and vows to take it down themselves if the Federal authorities don’t act.

The «anti-fences» group announced to the media  that this new invasion is more serious than the last ones because the fence is outside of any area available for a permit or concession and is now actually in the Lake because of the rise in the lake’s surface. They added that the family showed no proof of a permit or concession allowing them to erect a fence.

The fence in question is made of posts embedded in concrete and strung with barbed wire, replacing the cyclone fence removed earlier.  The group claimed that the construction of the fence is designed to take advantage of guidelines that allow fences of wire and sticks to delist a property owner’s border with the Lake.

«Originally the fence was a great act of laziness, but now it  is more of a crime, since the National Waters Law specifies that there cannot be any type of fencing within the water, so this new fence in the water  will help  us to act,» asserted one of the members of the group.

Those interviewed added that the lake is not far from reaching the elevation indicated by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), which is 97.8, and is currently at 95.1, that is, the property is well within the permitted limit.

This action on the part of the owners of the property angered Ajijitecos, both from the movement and outside of it. «They must think they need another fence, they sure like to spend money; besides, why are they doing it now that the lake level has risen. Why do they want almost a hectare of flooded land,» said another member of the group.

For the moment, the activists are preparing complaints so that the corresponding authorities take action on the delimitation of the land located within the federal zone. 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan