Hundreds of farmers launched a 24-hour strike Monday, blocking roads with stones and debris and obligating PeruRail to temporarily suspend service, reported state news agency Andina.
We will chain ourselves to the railway and block highways for the next 24 hours, said Eloy Apaza, the President of Cuzco’s Irrigation Association.
The farmers are demanding that the Peruvian government issue precise regulations for its recently promulgated Water Law. Peruvian legislators approved the country’s new water law in March, after eight years of debate. Under the new law, water is guaranteed as a human right and cannot be bought and used as private property. While the private sector can take part in the handling of hydrological resources, the bill rules out the possibility of privatizing water and sets priorities to ensure more efficient use of resources.
The law calls for the creation of a national water authority and establishes responsibilities for hydrological resources, including which entity will be responsible for water used in irrigation.
Peruvian farmers have gone on a number of strikes over the past few years due to fears that water for irrigation will be privatized. Authorities and legislators have assured them this is not the case, and therefore their production costs will not be subject to increases as a result.
According to the International Water and Sanitation Centre, or IRC, “The new water law is expected to increase waste water and industrial wastewater treatment control measures, and to increase the control over water used in industrial processes, improving the country’s environmental standards.”
Because of the protests, PeruRail has suspended all train service on its Cuzco-Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu-Cuzco, Puno-Cuzco and Cuzco-Puno routes.
“We regret any inconvenience that may occur as a result of this regional strike,” reported PeruRail in a press release.
PeruRail will reschedule travel dates for stranded travelers, or offer reimbursement.
