A elevação da cota do reservatório hidráulico da UHE Tucuruí e seus efeitos sobre a população da RDS Alcobaça (PA)

Abstract

The construction and operation of Hydroelectric Tucuruí transformed the natural landscape and fostered profound changes in socio-economics of the Middle-Tocantins. The implementation of the project was not preceded by Environmental Impact Assessments, as is now required from 1981 (Law 6938/81). The mitigation of environmental and social impacts was in charge of an Environmental Action Plan, consisting of 14 programs, specific to each segment changed or degraded by natural development. In 2002, in a process of collective discussion between government and society, approved the creation of Mosaic of Conservation of Lake Tucuruí. The expectation of the affected population, with the environmental planning area, was related to guarantees and rights and collective inviduais, housing, work and better public access to essential services. In 2002, the power utility has raised the water depth of Lake Tucuruí quota of 72m to 74m elevation, causing further environmental and social impacts on the population residing in the banks and islands, and especially for purposes of this study, RDS Alcobaça. These populations were compensated by the existing improvements in the range of flooding, but other socio-environmental impacts that would manifest itself progressively from new hydrologic cycles were relativisados by the entrepreneur, depositing in the Environmental Action Plan capacity respond to new changes in the environment and mitigate the socio-environmental ones. Studies within the RDS Alcobaça confirmed the existence of new impacts due to the lifting of the quota and the low efficiency of Environmental Action Plan as a tool for mitigating the environmental and social impacts.