Spending on halted works totals R$1.8 billion in Pernambuco, according to the TCE

Public works that were halted or showed signs of being halted in Pernambuco were responsible for an expenditure of R$1.8 billion in 2023. The value corresponds to 31% of the total of halted contracts (R$5.9 billion), and 9% of all which was committed to public contracts in the year (R$19.3 billion). The data collection, revealed this Thursday (25), was carried out by the State Audit Court (TCE-PE).

1,504 contracts were identified without completion, with 462 declared paralyzed by the public managers themselves, and 1,042 with signs of paralysis or abandonment, that is, those with disbursements lower than 15% of the total value of the contract in 2022. Flaws in the project, in the selection of suppliers and inspection by contractors are among the main reasons to justify the stoppage of these works.

The sectors most affected by unfinished works were urban mobility (23.4% of the total), such as the North-South and East-West corridors, which total more than R$297 million invested and should have been completed in 2013. Already water supply services (11.1%) and dams (8.6%) are next as the most abandoned works in the State. Like the expected “dam belt”, designed to reduce the risk of flooding in Mata Sul, which should have been completed in 2014.

The city of Recife appears in first place in the ranking of municipalities with the most work stopped, both in contracted amounts (R$726.7 million) and in amounts already paid (R$216.5 million). Cabo de Santo Agostinho is in second place among the municipalities with the highest amounts disbursed for frozen contracts.

If the TCE-PE finds that the strikes are the result of serious irregularities, the managers responsible may have their accounts rejected, receive a fine and, if damage to the treasury is proven, have to reimburse the public coffers. If there is evidence of criminal offense or impropriety, the case is forwarded to the Public Ministry of Pernambuco.

Listen to a note from reporter Taynã Olimpia in the ‘play’ above.