Panama City, July 30 (teleSUR-RHC)-- The Panamanian Supreme Court issued a controversial ruling on Tuesday overturning a temporary mandate issued by the Panamanian Ministry of Environment halting water use concessions to hydroelectric damn projects in the area of Bugaba.

Environmental activists and local community members from the affected area argue that the water use from hydroelectric dams will affect the local water supply located in the Chiriqui river basin.

After the decision was handed down, spokesperson from the Bugaba Coordinator Against Hydroelectric Projects, Maibys de Perez, called the ruling “outrageous.” “It is beyond belief that this is happening especially since the Ministry of Environment already issued a memorandum decree on hydroelectric projects in the region,” she said.

The six-month suspension period, issued by the environment ministry, is applied to projects that have not begun construction, water concessions in the application process and modifications to existing water concessions.