The Mexican government approved a controversial project that includes plans to build the largest solar plant in Latin America and top-notch waste recycling facilities southwest of Mexicali, a company official said.
EcoZoneMX General Manager Jesús Manuel López Pérez said the Mexican Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources green-lighted Viz Resource Management project that would create 2,000 jobs.
He said three fifths of the project’s 36,077 acres will be designated for an ecological reservation.
The project is located at the eastern skirts of the Cucapah Sierra.
“EcoZoneMX seeks to promote forestal, housing, commercial, industrial and mining development, as well as drive social and touristic development in our region,” López Pérez said.
The project was inspired by the Japanese model of the green industrial city of Kitakyushu, incorporated in 1963 and of less than a million inhabitants.
The company said in a press release the project complies with the standards set by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
However, several groups in Mexicali have protested against the EcoZoneMX project under allegations of becoming a serious source of pollution.
The company’s project is linked to SuKarne’s meat plant west of the city that has been accused of pollution and contributing to diseases like Rocky Mountain Fever that has killed over 100 residents.
The company said one the project’s plans are to include a waste management plant that would reduce the city’s open space disposal sites.
The project also includes an International Research Center for Biodiversity, Recycling and Renewable Energies.
The company said working groups with stakeholders will remain opened for follow-up and overview of the project.
Murder suspect arrested
A man who Mexican authorities were looking for in the State of Michoacán since 2012 was arrested in a rural town, said the State Secretary of Public Safety.
In a press release, authorities said Miguel Ángel “Doe,” 37, was arrested by Preventive police officers at Ejido Quintana Roo, southeast of Mexicali.
An anonymous source reported at the emergency center the whereabouts of the suspect who was absconding from justice in the town.
Police officers found and detained the suspect, who was nervous, according to authorities.
After confirming the suspect’s warrants police agents arrested the man, the agency said.
Authorities said in August 2012 the suspect took part in a fight with a cousin that led to the victim’s death.
The suspect then fled to Mexicali, where according to authorities he kept his criminal activities of theft and robberies.
Man arrested with three warrants
A man was arrested early Thursday in downtown after police officers determined the suspect had three arrest warrants, one of them for homicide, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said police agents arrested José “Doe,” 33, at 3 a.m. at Altamirano Street and Reforma Avenue.
Police officers found the suspect while fighting with other individuals.
After reviewing the suspect’s background police agents found he had an arrest warrant for attempted murder and murder since 2011.
The suspect had an additional arrest warrant for another crime dated in 2009.
The suspect was transported to the police headquarters.
Manufacturing industry growth reported
The state’s manufacturing industry grew 22.2 percent on May, according to a report from Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography, known in Spanish as INEGI.
The agency said on its Monthly Poll that Baja California’s manufacturing industry reported the largest growth in the northern border area and the fifth nationwide.
The state has observed 21 consecutive months of growth, of which 20 have been double digit, said Undersecretary of Economic Development Alfredo Babún.
The largest growth in the state was reported on machinery and equipment, transportation equipment and plastic.
Manufacturing employment increased 2.7 percent which translates into 7,361 new jobs, he said.
Production per employee went up from 32,200 pesos to 38,300 pesos in a year, Babún said.
Nationwide manufacturing industry production went up 6.1 percent compared to May 2015 and employment increased 2.9 percent.
The undersecretary said manufacturing represents 20 percent of the state’s economy.
Summer school begins
Sorry kids, bad news for you. The State Secretary of Education launched Wednesday summer school in an event held at Tierra y Libertad Elementary School in Ensenada.
State Secretary of Education Mario Herrera led the event to provide classes in 90 schools statewide until August 5.
The official said the program, which includes English, mathematics, reading, physical education and other courses, will benefit about 3,000 students.
In Mexicali 15 schools will take part of the program, he said.
The program opened at Mexicali’s Vicente Guerrero Junior High School at Fraccionamiento El Condor neighborhood.
Three kindergarten schools, four elementary and four middle grade schools will take part of the program in Mexicali.
