“Mais do mesmo”: uma análise dos efeitos da construção da UHE de Irapé para os reassentados de Araras

Abstract

Under the aegis of developmental ideological discourse, hydroelectric ventures in Brazil provoked relevant environmental and socio-cultural effects, especially in the lives of people living in the regions directly affected. From this perspective, the present work aimed to analyze the process of involuntary transfer, expropriation and resettlement, as a consequence of the Irapé Hydroelectric Power Plant, located in the city of Araras, Francisco Sá, northern Minas Gerais. course of the Jequitinhonha River. In order to achieve the objective, a case study was carried out, supplemented by bibliographical and documentary researches, with fieldwork made possible by the semi-structured interview technique, as well as photographic records. The study showed that the expropriation and involuntary transfer of the twenty-six families affected by the Irapé HPP to the Araras resettlement was a process generating social suffering and negative impacts on the way of life of the rural farmers involved. It brought about a rupture of kinship and neighborhood ties; abruptly modified life stories; daily practices of economic and cultural reproduction. This was aggravated mainly by the unavailability of water resources in the new location and the unavailability of access to public services previously existing in their places of origin such as education, health and transportation. As a result, we describe the mismatch between the proposals and the rights-guarantee discourses propagated by the enterprise during the process of planning remedial measures and the conditions experienced by those affected by the Irapé HPP, demonstrating that meeting the technical requirements of the licensing process environmental impact of a hydroelectric dam, such as the elaboration of the TAC - Term of Adjustment of Conduct - signed between the enterprise and the impacted populations, such instrument, has not guaranteed the resolution of conflicts and respect for human dignity and environmental justice.