“After a lot of struggle, I’m now registered!”, says affected by Belo Monte

After a lot of pressure from the people affected by the Belo Monte dam in the city of Altamira, Norte Energia admits to re-open the registration for the families living in the area which is going to be flooded by the reservoir lake of the dam.

The registration is the first step to guarantee the right of the families, because it means to be recognized by the company as affected. MAB have being denouncing since the beginning of this year that many families have been excluded of this right without any reason.

Last week, the registration work-group went to the Bonfim Street, at the neighbourhood of Boa Esperança, one of the roads that were “forgotten” by Norte Energia at the first registration, concluded in January of 2013. Carla Rodrigues, who is 22 years old, student and activist of the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) (PHOTO) is one of those who have being registered now. “This is only the beginning of the struggle, but there is already a good advance”, she said.

              Carla Rodrigues shows her registration form, the first step to be recognized by Norte Energia as affected by the dam

MAB have being denouncing since the beginning of the year that many affected have been excluded from Norte Energia registration of people affected by the dam. Compared to the survey of the Studies on Environmental Impact of Belo Monte with the number of the registered families, MAB evaluates that at least 10.7 thousand people are in this condition in Altamira. But the number can be even higher, due to the dynamics of migration imposed to the city by the construction of the dam.

Now, the people affected by Belo Monte still have a lot to struggle to actually have the right for resettlement, because for many families the company until now is only offering financial compensation which is insufficient to guarantee the right for a home in Altamira. Until now, the company registered 7790 families, but its intention is only to build 3980 houses at their allotments for the families.