environment
March 30, 2026
Minister of Environment, Irene Vélez, announced the opening of a sanctioning process against Hidroituango
Irene Vélez, Minister of Environment. Photo: Mauricio Moreno / EL TIEMPO
TL;DR
- The Minister of Environment, Irene Vélez, announced a sanctioning process against Hidroituango for alleged environmental non-compliance.
- The decision follows repeated infractions, including the recent flooding of 60 hectares of vegetation.
- Hidroituango has faced 20 sanctioning processes in the last decade and 29 in total.
- Investigations concern uncontrolled water flow, drought period flow equilibrium, flooding due to rising water levels without proper forest management, and inadequate protection of fauna.
- The environmental authority, under Irene Vélez, has imposed 124 sanctions in the past year, nine times more than the previous government.
- Record fines totaling $82,467 million have been imposed, a 230% increase compared to the previous government's average collection.