MAB releases documentary on dam project in Rio de Janeiro state

With online launch scheduled for next Tuesday (Feb. 10), the documentary “Guapiaçu: A threatened Rio de de Janeiro” portrays the contradictions of the dam construction project on the Guapiaçu river.

In a situation of lack of water which is affecting the whole south-east region of Brazil, the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) will release next Tuesday, February 10th, the documentary “Guapiaçu: um Rio (de Janeiro) Ameaçado”, through event on facebook. The documentary has legend in English and Spanish.

This documentary is made collectively by members of MAB, the documentary portrays the drama of the population of Cachoeiras de Macacu, municipality located 100 kilometres from the city of Rio de Janeiro, due to the dam project on the Guapiaçu river. Pointed out as an hydro solution for the state, this dam can affect directly more than three thousand people and affect a productive chain of approximately 15 thousand workers, which generates annually 100 millions of Reais. The region produces more than 55 tons of food, leading the production of cassava and corn, destined mainly to the consumption of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

According to the proposer of the construction, the State Department of Environment, the water deviated by the dam would supply the demand of Imunana-Orangery system, which supplies the metropolitan east region of Rio de Janeiro.

However, several irregularities in the licensing process have been identified by organizations and civil society. According to the Brazilian Geographers Association, there is a legal irregularity in the role played by the Department of Environment, which is at the same time the applicant and the project evaluator.

Besides, the organization points out to the irregularities regarding the expropriation decrees of the areas, which possibly will be affected by the lake of the dam, which were published before an official/legal advice of the State Institute for Environment, which is responsible for the environmental license in Rio de Janeiro.

Besides, these decrees notes contemplates only five thousand Reais (1824 US dollars) of compensation for each hectare of expropriated land, which is a value absurdly below the market. As the region is formed by small farms, which varies of three to four hectares each farm, the values of compensation for each family varies between 15 and 20 thousand Reais (5471 to 7295 US dollars), for this value it is not possible to buy any type of house or land near.

For Leonardo Maggi, member of the national coordination of MAB, the Rio de Janeiro state government have choosen the worst alternative regarding the lack of water supply. “Instead of investing on the preservation of the Guapiaçu river and recovering the hydro basin of the region, the government preferred the easiest way: build a dam and penalize the population that are more vulnerable. But we do not loose our hope and we will continue fighting”.

This Friday is happening the pre-release of the documentary in Cachoeiras de Macacu, the exhibition is happening to all those affected who contributed to the process of making-off and production of the documentary. Next Tuesday, 11 am (Brasilia time) will happen the official release online which will take place at the MAB’s website and social media. March is programmed the exhibition in state schools of the region and in universities.

Guapiaçu: um Rio (de Janeiro) Ameaçado
A film of: Bruno Ferrari, Guilherme Weimann and Vinicius Denadai
Production: Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens – MAB