Peru’s Executive will name a high level commission for talks with residents in Cuzco’s Espinar province when protests over the Majes-Siguas II irrigation project stop, Prime Minister Jose Antonio Chang said.
“The high level commission will be named at the same time when [the protests] are lifted and once it is installed [the commission] will travel to the area to try and resolve the problems,” state news agency Andina reported Chang as saying.
Residents in Espinar began protests this week over private investment agency ProInversion’s decision to award a concession to ACS consortium for the development of the Majes-Siguas II project. The contract is worth $424mn.
At least one person was killed and numerous people injured when protesters clashed with police. Protesters who clashed with police are concerned the project will affect the availability of water from the Apurimac River.
