Reproduction Hydroelectric Plant/Federal Public Ministry (MPF) The Federal Public Ministry (MPF), the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT) and the Federal Public Defender's Office (DPU) filed two lawsuits to request protection measures for the Madeira River Basin, in Rondônia. The bodies are also demanding more than R$330 million in compensation and want the federal government to create a committee to increase the population's participation in decisions about the use of the river's waters. The actions target the Santo Antônio and Jirau hydroelectric plants. According to the MPF, the installation and operation of the projects caused a strong reduction in the region's fish stock and affected the fishing activity of riverside communities. According to the action, blocking fish migration routes reduced the number of species of high commercial value, such as sea bream and bream, by up to 95% in some riverside communities. For the MPF, the situation directly affected the fishermen's income and way of life. READ ALSO: Indigenous people block section of BR-364 to demand health improvements in villages in RO Arraial Flor do Maracujá will be held in August, in Porto Velho; check the dates What one of the companies says In a note, AXIA Energia stated that UHE Santo Antônio carries out its socio-environmental actions in accordance with the Basic Environmental Project (PBA), under the supervision of the competent bodies. The company also reported that it has already invested more than R$2.6 billion in programs aimed at environmental monitoring, biodiversity conservation and social development. Regarding the action, the company declared that it will present its clarifications and exercise its right to defense in the case records. g1 contacted the other institutions mentioned in the report, but did not receive a response until the last update of this report. See the trending videos on g1:
Federal agencies ask for R$330 million and accuse hydroelectric plants of harming fishing in RO
Reproduction Hydroelectric Plant/Federal Public Ministry (MPF) The Federal Public Ministry (MPF), the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT) and the Federal Public Defender's Office (DPU) filed two lawsuits to request...
In the second action, the MPF, the MPT and the DPU ask that the Union and the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA) establish the Madeira River Hydrographic Basin Committee and the Water Agency responsible for managing the river. According to the agencies, the federal government has not created these structures for more than 15 years, which prevents fishermen, indigenous people and riverside residents from participating in decisions about the use of water resources. As an urgent measure, the institutions are also asking the Court to suspend new environmental licensing for large projects in the Madeira River Basin, such as the binational plant and the Madeira waterway, until independent studies are carried out on the accumulated impacts on the river. If the Basin Committee is not created within a year, the bodies request that ANA, the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) and the State Secretariat for Environmental Development of Rondônia (Sedam) be prevented from issuing or renewing licenses and authorizations for large projects in the region. The MPT also argues that the impacts directly affect workers in traditional communities. According to the agency, the reduction in fishing has compromised the main economic activity of thousands of families, leading some of them to seek other forms of livelihood, such as illegal mining. Compensation requests In the actions, the MPF, the MPT and the DPU ask that the concessionaires pay at least R$250 million to repair the environmental damage caused to the Madeira River. The amount may also be charged to the Union and Ibama on a subsidiary basis. Furthermore, the bodies ask that Santo Antônio Energia be ordered to pay R$50 million for collective moral damages and that Jirau Energia pay R$30 million for the same reason. According to the action, the resources must be allocated to environmental recovery projects and support for riverside communities. The institutions also request that companies adopt measures to recover fish stocks in the Madeira River, reduce environmental impacts and strengthen artisanal fishing and other traditional activities in affected communities. The request includes the participation of fishermen and community representatives in defining these actions.
