Lula guarantees funding for road reconstruction in Rio Grande do Sul

The reconstruction of highways destroyed by floods in Rio Grande do Sul will have support from the federal government, including roads administered by the state, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said this Sunday (5). Accompanied by a delegation of representatives from the Three Powers, Lula said that the funds are guaranteed and promised to reduce bureaucracy for the works.

“I know that the state has a difficult financial situation, I know that there are many roads with problems. I want to say that the federal government, through the Ministry of Transport, will help you recover state roads”, said Lula in a speech after flying over the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, accompanied by the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira; from the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco; and Minister Edson Fachin, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

“There will be no impediment from bureaucracy for us to recover the greatness of this state”, highlighted Lula, who also asked that public authorities, from now on, act in a preventive manner to reduce the impact of extreme weather events. “We need to stop chasing misfortune. We need to see in advance what misfortunes could happen so we can work,” she added.

This is Lula’s second trip to Rio Grande do Sul since the start of the floods. On Thursday (2), the president went to Santa Maria, central region of the state, to monitor the rescue and relief work for the victims.

The Minister of National Integration, Waldez Góes, who also participated in the meeting, said that the federal and state governments are beginning to work with city halls in regions such as Vale do Taquari, to reestablish services where rivers begin to recede. He, however, clarified that the priority remains the rescue of stranded people

Lula made a statement after leading a meeting of federal authorities with the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite; the mayor of Porto Alegre, Sebastião Melo; and other mayors from Rio Grande do Sul. Before the meeting, the delegation had flown over the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, where they monitored the damage caused by the rise of Lake Guaíba.

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The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, once again stated that the state is going through the biggest climate catastrophe in history. Leite warned of the risk of shortages and collapse in several areas, due to the closure of Salgado Filho Airport, blockages and destruction on highways and the lack of energy and water in several locations. After the rescue of the victims, said the governor, the concern will be with the resumption of industrial activities in the state, which has the fourth largest economy in the country.

“We are monitoring the impact on the production chains, because the animals do not arrive, the slaughterhouse was also affected, collapsing. This affects the lives of workers naturally, but there is also a supply issue. So, actions will have to be taken in this area. The impact on industry, due to inputs that will not arrive, or the companies that supply and that were affected, stoppages in industrial plants, which will require economic measures”, highlighted the governor.

The mayor of Porto Alegre, Sebastião Melo, called for the rapid arrival of resources to the municipalities so that reconstruction work can begin as quickly as possible. In the state capital itself, he highlighted, there is a lack of equipment to face a climate tragedy of this scale. According to him, the problem is even more serious in the interior of the state.

“There is a lack of boats, boats and vests in the city. I’m talking about my city, but this extends to many dozens of municipalities and this cannot wait. It has to be today, it has to be now”, said Melo. The mayor highlighted that 70% of the city is without water and that there is a shortage of diesel for water trucks and oxygen for hospitals, but said that, at this moment, public authorities need to focus on saving lives.

As of 12pm this Sunday, Rio Grande do Sul recorded 75 deaths, 155 injuries and 103 missing people. In total, 781 thousand residents were affected by the storms.