“People forgotten” by Belo Monte achieved the right of registration

Published in November 5^th 2015 on mabnacional.org.br

After a year of struggles as part in the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB), 400 families living in the neighborhood Independente 2 in the city of Altamira, will be recognized as affected by Belo Monte Dam and will have the right to resettlement or compensation. The achievement was announced by the president of Ibama (Federal Institute for Environment), Marilene Ramos, during a meeting with families on November 5^th.

“There will be no operating license [to Belo Monte] if this process of resettlement and compensation does not start and if you do not have a decent treatment,” said Marilene. She said that the Institute was not aware of the case of the neighborhood until September this year, although Norte Energia company had requested an operating license to start filling the lake since that month. At the neighborhood “Independente 2” families live in a pond area below the dimension 100 (reference for removal of those affected) and the Norte Energia had never even made the socioeconomic registration of these families.

The only solution offered by the company was a drainage project, which the Ibama’s president considered “risky.” “As a civil engineer, I know how difficult it is to the city hall to maintain such system of drainage, which connects the pump when the tank fills and shuts off when empty. Ibama stated ANA [National Water Agency] that this drainage system is unappropriated”.

Families organized in MAB have been fighting to be recognized as people affected by the dam and denouncing the false solution of the drainage project presented by Norte Energia. Numerous marches, protests, rallies and road closures were made. “We thank MAB and especially each family that are here, who believe in the fight,” said Elaine, neighborhood resident and coordinator of MAB.

Iury Paulino, MAB activist, thanked the commitment of representatives of the Government House in Altamira, Avelino Ganzer and Márcio Hirata, to give progress in attending the demands. And pointed out: “we will continue demanding as this fight does not stop here”.

The Ibama president also stated the case of the neighborhood Independent I. Yesterday, a committee of residents of the neighborhood (also in a pond area), went to Altamira City Hall for information to their situation. She said that this neighborhood is at a higher elevation area, but will also be monitored and if there is flooding with the dam, Ibama will interfere.