What Happened
Communities in Río Indio, in Colón province, are pushing back against a reservoir project tied to the Panama Canal, saying their rejection is rooted in the risk of losing fertile land that sustains their families. Residents describe the river and surrounding farmland as the basis of their food supply, income, and daily survival.
Iris Gallardo Bethancourt, from the Guásimo sector of Río Indio in Donoso, said relocation to land where she would not be able to prosper is a major concern because her livelihood depends on agriculture. For years, she has relied on the river and nearby areas for food and does not want to give that up.
Residents say they do not oppose development for its own sake. Their main concern is that the project could force them off productive land without clear guarantees that they can maintain their way of life.
Why Residents Are Opposing the Plan
The opposition comes from distrust of official promises and frustration over what residents see as a long pattern of neglect. Many say they feel forgotten by the authorities and fear that any resettlement would place them in areas where farming is not viable.
That uncertainty has driven calls to suspend the project and open a broader dialogue. Community members want concerns addressed before any further steps are taken, and they argue that the country should consider the social consequences alongside the water needs of the Canal.
Some residents also reject the census being carried out by the Panama Canal Authority to estimate the number of people affected. They believe the figures could later be used to suggest consent for resettlement. According to residents, about 70% disagree with the measure.
Dispute Over Affected Population
The size of the affected population is another source of tension. The Panama Canal Authority estimates that 3,200 people would be impacted, while residents put the number at 13,000. That gap has deepened skepticism in the communities that would be directly affected by the reservoir plan.
For residents, the dispute is not only about statistics. It reflects a broader concern that official planning may not fully capture the scale of the social and economic disruption facing farming families in Río Indio.
Calls for Other Options
Jorge Rodríguez, a resident of northern Coclé and a member of the United for Life Peasant Movement, has urged authorities to evaluate alternatives such as Lake Bayano. He argues that other options could offer more water and possibly lower construction time and cost than the Indio River project, which he says would come in below $600 million.
Rodríguez also questioned whether the Indio River has enough flow to serve both the Canal and the population, warning against new reservoirs that could burden rivers and future generations. He said his group sees the project as prioritizing global trade over rural life, work, and food security.
He added that many communities near the Canal do not see its benefits in their daily lives, pointing to muddy roads, limited medical staff, and poor school infrastructure as proof that public investment has not reached them.
The Bigger Debate
The clash over Río Indio reflects a broader national challenge: how to secure water for the Panama Canal while protecting rural communities that depend on the same land and rivers. For the families living along the riverbanks, the issue is not abstract. It is about whether they can remain on productive land and keep farming for the next generation.
As debate continues, residents are asking for dialogue and a closer look at the social cost of the project before any irreversible decision is made.