The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage orders the total suspension of the works of the Cuna del Alma project, in El Puertito de Adeje“given the recent findings of new rock manifestations” and the completion of the precautionary measures adopted by the Council of Tenerife. It argues article 59.2 of the Law of Cultural Heritage of Canary Islands and establishes “new precautionary measures for a period of six months.” The promoter, Segunda Casa Adeje SL, assured yesterday that it does not have any official notification.
The Government of the Canary Islands It will carry out an “in-depth” archaeological study to avoid further deterioration of the archaeological sites located in this area and to prevent “damage to all the Canarian cultural heritage assets that are found in it that could become irreversible.”
With the total stoppage of the works, only those actions strictly related to the protection of the patrimonial assets found, as well as any other element or area with patrimonial value, may be carried out. Cultural Heritage conditions such interventions to be carried out “under the supervision of specialized technical personnel”.
Partial precautionary stoppage.
The one announced yesterday is the fifth measure adopted by the administrations that affects the Cuna del Alma tourism project after the work began last May. The first of these was taken by the Insular Directorate for Territorial Planning and Historical Heritage of the Cabildo de Tenerife, which, on May 31, adopted the precautionary measure to paralyze the work in the area where the partial destruction of archaeological remains occurred, a fact then classified as very serious. Decision ratified on June 28.
Fine of 600,000 euros.
The High Inspectorate of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage visited on July 12 to verify such facts and assess the damage caused by the works carried out by the promoter Segunda Casa Adeje SL. It confirms the condition of a deposit “that has great potential” (PA4), with damage such as a part of the leveled structure and unrecognizable surface material due to the work carried out, “remaining only part of it, a cabin and two shelters and three rocks with engravings located in the immediate surroundings of the structures».
Yesterday the developer company had no official record of the new stoppage order
The department managed by María Antonia Perera highlights that “the seriousness of the events and the irreversible loss of ethnographic assets and archaeological sites constitute irreparable damage”, which motivates the opening of a disciplinary process in process. This second measure includes a proposed fine of 600,000 euros, the maximum possible for violations of the cataloging applied.
Total precautionary stoppage.
On November 10, the General Directorate for the Fight against Climate Change and the Environment resolved the precautionary stoppage of the works when verifying the presence of the plant sad viper (Echium triste)included in the Canary Islands Catalog of Protected Species, although it is not threatened, it is not in danger of extinction, nor is it vulnerable or worthy of attention due to its ecological importance, according to the resolution.
Fine of 110,000 euros.
The Canarian Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment initiates a sanctioning file against the promoter, because the Cuna del Alma project lacks the mandatory environmental impact report. As it is an offense classified as “serious”, it raises a fine of 110,000 euros. At the same time, it orders the suspension of the execution of the works while the file is being processed and in order to avoid affecting the sad viper.
The area will be the subject of an in-depth archaeological study of the entire partial plan
The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage halted work on the entire partial plan after the discovery of new engravings in the area comprising the unit of action was reported on November 7. This communication, together with the other four sites whose information was provided by the Tegüico Association (a group that filed the first complaint with the Cabildo) and another engraving located on the first visit by the High Inspection, were not included in the study commissioned. by the company.
According to this department of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning in a statement made public yesterday, the sites found that house cave manifestations “are declared with the category of archaeological zones.” As a consequence of all this, Cultural Heritage concludes “the need to review and carry out a survey of the entire unit of action to avoid possible effects on what is on the surface.”
