An environmental organization filed a lawsuit to halt landfill works in a section of the Paraná River considered environmentally sensitive. The lawsuit was filed by the Civil Association Orembaé before the Federal Justice based in Posadas.
The claim is directed against the Yacyretá Binational Entity and the Association of Protectors of the Middle Island for interventions carried out on the Middle Island.
The organization requested the immediate cessation of the works until the legal procedures provided by the current environmental regulations are fulfilled.
In particular, the claim seeks to suspend landfill tasks, soil movement, and material disposal in the intervened area.
Judicial claim for lack of environmental impact studies
The judicial presentation includes a precautionary measure to prevent any project advancement. The objective is to prevent new interventions until the environmental studies required by legislation are available.
According to the claim presented, the provincial and national control bodies have not yet approved the corresponding environmental impact study for the works.
Such evaluations are mandatory for projects that can modify natural ecosystems or alter the functioning of a river. Additionally, the claim argues that the interventions were carried out without fully complying with the administrative and environmental procedures provided by the regulations.
For this reason, the organization also questioned the lack of public participation in the project discussion.
Concern about materials used in the landfill
The controversy intensified after the organization detected possible irregularities in the materials used for the landfill. According to aerial images analyzed by the environmentalists, part of the work may have used tires out of use as a structural base.
This type of material raises concerns about its potential environmental impact, especially in aquatic ecosystems. Tires can release microplastics and chemical compounds that, over time, incorporate into the water and river sediments.
If these pollutants enter the fluvial system, they could affect both the water quality and the species inhabiting the Paraná River ecosystem. Faced with this possibility, the organization requested that public access to the environmental information related to the project be guaranteed.
How these interventions can affect the environment and local ecosystems?
Landfill works in fluvial environments can generate significant modifications in the natural functioning of the ecosystem. Firstly, the movement of sediments alters the river dynamics, modifying currents, water levels, and erosion processes.
These transformations can affect reproduction areas and feeding grounds for fish, aquatic birds, and other organisms associated with the Paraná system. Additionally, the incorporation of artificial materials in wetlands or river islands can alter the native vegetation that acts as a refuge for numerous species.
Changes in vegetation cover can also impact the soil stability and the ecosystem’s capacity to absorb floods. On the other hand, if waste or contaminant materials are incorporated, there is a risk that toxic substances enter the river’s food chain.
This not only affects the wildlife but also the human communities that depend on the Paraná for water supply and productive activities.
An environmental conflict with potential regional implications
The case also raises questions on the international level due to the project’s location. The section of the Paraná River where the works are being developed is part of a water system shared between Argentina and Paraguay.
For this reason, any intervention that modifies the course or the ecological balance of the river could have effects beyond national borders. In this context, environmental organizations argue that projects of this type should be evaluated with transparency criteria and international cooperation.
They also insist on the need to conduct rigorous environmental studies and ensure public participation before proceeding with works that may transform strategic ecosystems of the coast.
While the case progresses in the Federal Justice, the debate once again highlights the importance of protecting the fluvial environments of the Paraná, one of the most valuable ecological systems in South America.
