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Nasca Says It Cannot Remove Waste From Nazca Lines Without Culture Ministry Authorization

A backlog of pending authorizations risks further damage to the UNESCO‑listed pampas, prompting consideration of tourist‑entry funds for increased surveillance.

Overview

  • The mayor of Nasca told reporters on Tuesday that the municipal government cannot clear accumulated debris at kilometer 437 of the Panamericana Sur because it lacks formal authorization from the national Ministry of Culture.
  • News teams from RPP and images circulated by RT en Español documented visible piles of waste and abandoned material inside the protected Nazca pampas, fuelling public concern over the site's condition.
  • José Gonzáles, director of the regional Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura de Ica, said the office will give viabilidad to the municipality's technical file so work can proceed and that funds from the boleto turístico are being considered to strengthen surveillance.
  • Local officials say the municipality has roughly 80 outstanding protection and conservation files pending with the Ministry of Culture, a backlog they say is delaying interventions across Nasca's archaeological zones.
  • Authorities have not yet executed cleanup or reinforced protection; the delays leave the UNESCO‑listed area exposed to hazards such as illegal dumping and nearby illegal mining, and they threaten tourism and local livelihoods while formal approval is awaited.