Operation drought: Wilson Lima announces licenses for river dredging to ensure navigability

Governor Wilson Lima announced, this Thursday (09/05), the issuance of environmental licenses for dredging in four stretches of rivers in the Amazon and highlighted that the State Government has acted in advance to minimize the impacts of drought in this region. year, which is expected to be as intense or more intense as that of 2023.

“We are delivering the environmental licenses, through our Ipaam, so that this entire environmental issue is effectively regularized so that the (dredging) work can begin as quickly as possible. I have already been with the Federal Government expressing the concerns we have regarding this year’s drought, which is expected to be very severe”, informed Wilson Lima.

The dredging work will be carried out by the Federal Government, through the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit), and is expected to begin immediately upon issuance of the licenses. The dredging meets a request from the governor who has been meeting with state ministers since the beginning of the year, such as the ministries of Ports and Airports, Integration and Regional Development and Environment and Climate Change, requesting support in anticipating actions .

This week, in Brasília, Wilson Lima also met with representatives from Eletrobrás to discuss energy security, especially isolated electrical energy supply systems.

Dredging

The dredging service consists of removing sediments (such as sand and other materials) from the bottom of rivers to facilitate the navigation of vessels and prevent them from running aground. Among the stretches that received environmental licenses, issued by the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (Ipaam), are: Manaus-Itacoatiara (Madeira River); Codajás-Coari and Benjamin Constant-São Paulo de Olivença (Amazon river) and Benjamin Constant – Tabatinga (Solimões river).

The announcement included state deputy Joana Darc; the president of the Association of Municipalities of Amazonas, Anderson Souza, who is also mayor of Rio Preto da Eva; and state secretaries.

On the occasion, the governor highlighted the reinforcement of new structures for supplying treated water in the interior. Currently, the state has 500 systems installed throughout Amazonas. This Wednesday (08/05), 12 projects to reinforce these structures were approved in the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) Seleções. According to the State Civil Defense, at least 20 new mobile structures should be used during the dry season.

Drought

Governor Wilson Lima met on Monday (06/05), state secretaries to align actions to combat the drought expected for this year and the construction of the state work plan for the issue and determined that the secretariats act in advance planning to minimize effects of drought, if it occurs.

Since January, Civil Defense has been holding meetings with sectors such as industry and commerce, public authorities, telecommunications companies and water and energy concessionaires to provide information and coordinate prevention actions in view of the possibility of another severe drought in 2024.

“We are involving the entire civil society because we need, in fact, to adopt public policies, but also actions within the entire scope so that the system works and can protect our population”, stated the executive secretary of Civil Defense, Colonel Francisco Máximo.

River levels in all Amazon river channels are below expectations for the period, compared to previous years. The elevation of the Negro River, this Thursday, for example, reached the mark of 25.67 meters. In previous years, the elevations on that same day were 27.44 meters (2023); 29.10 meters (2022) and 29.43 meters (2021).

Among the actions considered urgent, in addition to dredging rivers, are the maintenance of ports and airports; air quality control; solutions for access to drinking water; and measures to avoid shortages of fuel, commerce and communications.

Amazonas through Rio Grande do Sul

Wilson Lima also launched, this Thursday, the solidarity campaign “Amazonas Pelo Rio Grande do Sul”, to collect non-perishable food and drinking water – two of the main demands of the state of Rio Grande do Sul – for victims of the rains and floods, as well as food and veterinary medicines. . Donations start from Saturday (11/05), in Manaus, and go until 18/05. What is collected will be transported in trucks provided by the company Bertolini and will travel from Manaus to Rio Grande do Sul.

Three water purifiers from the Água Boa program and, initially, 30,000 glasses of water from the Amazonas Sanitation Company (Cosama) will also be sent.

In addition, the Government of Amazonas will send, this Friday (10/05), 15 professionals from the Fire Department specializing in water and land rescue, first-aid care and rescue in collapsed structures.

Civil Defense will also open a channel to bring people from Amazonas who live in Rio Grande de Sul and who are interested in returning to Amazonas. The needs of each family will be assessed and information is available on the website www.paineldoclima.com.br.