The urban planning expert Julio Nazar, an academic at the Universidad del Desarrollo, stated in Lo Que Queda del Día that Greater Santiago is not prepared for intense rainfall events as a result of the execution of the civil works of the master plan for drainage and water evacuation. rains, which dates back to the early 2000s, «has been practically non-existent.
Given that «the paved and built hectares continue to increase (…) the water does not find a place to decant and be absorbed by the underground layers, and it runs off through the streets,» he explained, pointing out that «this water condition and the floods affect all social classes equally», which «reflects poor planning and an absence of a future and sustainable vision for our cities».
«The city and the State must invest. But the private sector also stopped carrying out a large number of rainwater collector works during the urban development of Santiago in the last 20 years, in which its extension increased by more than 30% «, also maintained the architect.
He also stated that «a city cannot continue to be built in the way Santiago was built since the mid-80s,» questioning that «it is a city where the economic model was guiding quantitative development, building and generating developable land,» but «without «asking» how to promote the quality of life of their own populations and neighborhoods.
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