A judge in Brazil has blocked a project to build a zipline connecting the famous Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro to a nearby hill, Morro da Urca. The attraction's developer said it would allow visitors to descend from Sugarloaf Mountain at speeds of almost 100 km/h (62 mph) via four ziplines covering a distance of 755 m (0.47 miles). The project - which started four years ago - had triggered protests from locals and environmentalists, who argued that the construction work was causing irreparable damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The developer is expected to appeal against the decision.
Gricel Osorio Hor-Meyll, one of the activists who had led the campaign against the zipline, told AFP news agency that the ruling was 'a huge victory'. Those opposed to the attraction argued that in order to build the platforms needed to access the zipline, the rock on top of Sugarloaf Mountain would have to be excavated. The company managing the site claimed that excavation would be kept to a minimum by utilizing areas with existing construction.
Despite having the approval of both Rio City Council and the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), the judge ordered IPHAN and the developer to pay 30 million reals ($5.77 million, £4.35 million) in damages, emphasizing the 'inestimable value of Sugarloaf Mountain, not only for Brazilians but for people worldwide'. The legal contention surrounding the project has been ongoing, with construction previously halted. In January, work had resumed after a ruling indicated that halting it would cause more harm than completing it, with claims that it was 95% finished. However, with the recent ruling, the future of the zipline project remains uncertain.
Gricel Osorio Hor-Meyll, one of the activists who had led the campaign against the zipline, told AFP news agency that the ruling was 'a huge victory'. Those opposed to the attraction argued that in order to build the platforms needed to access the zipline, the rock on top of Sugarloaf Mountain would have to be excavated. The company managing the site claimed that excavation would be kept to a minimum by utilizing areas with existing construction.
Despite having the approval of both Rio City Council and the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), the judge ordered IPHAN and the developer to pay 30 million reals ($5.77 million, £4.35 million) in damages, emphasizing the 'inestimable value of Sugarloaf Mountain, not only for Brazilians but for people worldwide'. The legal contention surrounding the project has been ongoing, with construction previously halted. In January, work had resumed after a ruling indicated that halting it would cause more harm than completing it, with claims that it was 95% finished. However, with the recent ruling, the future of the zipline project remains uncertain.
