Written by Karina Miotto
Monday, 03 October 2011 14:18
Last week, the Federal Court of Pará ruled in favor of the halt in construction of the hydroelectric Belo Monte, in the Xingu River, in the estate of Pará. The injunction was granted at the request of the Association of Breeders and Exporters of Ornamental Fishes in Altamira (Acepoat), since the plant would affect the fishing of ornamental fishes in the river, an activity that generates income to entrepreneurs from outside the region. The determination was given by of Judge Carlos Eduardo Castro Martins, from the 9th Federal Court.
So far, explosions, digging of canals and "any work that will interfere in the natural course of the Xingu River with consequent changes in fish population" are forbidden. The fine was set at 200 thousand Brazilian real a day for breaching the injection. The Consortium Norte Energia can appeal the decision.
License Suspension
Three days after the ruling by the Federal Court of Pará, the council of Altamira requested the Federal Public Prosecutions Office to ask for the immediate suspension in the license to install the plant. The reason would be a breach of conditions, ie, necessary compensatory measures given the impacts of the works. The deadline for compliance was past July 30th.
"The works on education and health facilities should have been finished before the start of the works on the construction site, which are far ahead in relation to the compliance with conditions. What you see in practice, so far, are painful frustrations, a growth in poverty, insecurity and social chaos”, says the local government communication. According to the federal prosecutor Felício Pontes Jr., the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (Ibama) should never have given the Installation License (LI) to the plant. "The request of the municipality of Altamira proves we were right in the action we took when saying the LI should not have been given before the fulfillment of the conditions."
The attorney backs the ruling of Judge Carlos Eduardo Martins Castro in regards to the ornamental fishing, and considers it somehow a victory. "However, the work won’t reach the river not even next year. Ibama’s decision to grant the LI and authorize Nesa to take water from the Xingu River and, at the same time, authorize the Acepoat to fish ornamental fishes, is contradictory”, says the attorney.
