After warning, Environment halts North Yaque river dredging

Santiago.- Environment minister Bautista Rojas Gomez on Sunday ordered the halt of the work of the Paseo del Rio Yaque del Norte, being built by the Santiago City Council.

"We’ll not allow a single pebble to be touched at that place," the official said. “Assaults on major water flows in the country’s Northern region will no longer be accepted.”

Just a few days ago Cibao Ecological Society (SOECI) director Olmedo Leon warned of the risk Santiago faced with the dredging of the North Yaque.

He said the dredging endangers neighborhoods in low-lying areas in the southern part of the city, when rains cause the river to crests its banks.