Colombia unblocks reconstruction of Mocoa aqueduct

Colombia's housing ministry has managed to unblock reconstruction works on an aqueduct serving Mocoa in Putumayo department, which were temporarily halted due to the opposition of local indigenous communities to some of the construction works on the 28.1bn-peso (US$9mn) project.

"The Inga indigenous community of Mocoa gave permission to start executing all of the works related to the reconstruction of Mocoa's aqueduct," the housing ministry stated in a release, adding that the reconstruction works were 60% behind schedule because of the delays caused.

With the authorization, works will start on reconditioning an existing potable water plant, as well construction of a new plant with production capacity of 107.5l/s. Local construction firm Conconcreto is responsible for the aqueduct works.

The Mocoa aqueduct is one of the projects included in the 1.2tn peso (US$392mn) reconstruction program for the city, following a 2017 landslide that killed over 300 residents.