Property owners scramble to avoid cleanup fines

Property owners are securing their lots to protect them from dumpers. Photo: Courtesy
Property owners are securing their lots to protect them from dumpers. Photo: Courtesy

Mérida, Yucatán — More than 500 owners of vacant land have cleaned up their properties to avoid municipal fines which can reach 600,000 pesos.

In early April, city officials launched a crackdown on blighted vacant lots, partly to eliminate breeding sites for disease-carrying mosquitoes.

In response, some land owners are securing their properties and even installing video cameras to prevent surreptitious garbage dumping or vandalism.

One newly walled-in parcel, in Col. Roma, exceeds two hectares, and neighbors told Noticias de Yucatán that they applaud the owner’s actions.

Since April, 80 percent of all properties served notice by the city have avoided penalties by complying with the regulations, officials said. Fines vary depending on the size of the property.

The city a few weeks ago updated its mobile app to allow citizens to report blighted land in a process that should take about three minutes.

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