Evaluation of socioenvironmental mitigation measures caused by the construction of hydropower plants : the populational resettlement of the Taquaruçu power plant, São Paulo, Brazil

Author(s)

Helenilza Ferreira Albuquerque Cunha

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 1999-06-17

Examining board members

Maria do Carmo Calijuri; Fazal Hussain Chaudhry; Nivaldo Nordi; Eneida Salati; Rosana Filomena Vazoller

• Advisor: Maria do Carmo Calijuri

Abstract

The Electricity Company of São Paulo (CESP), Brazil, constructed from 1980 to 1992 the Taquamçu Dam for the generation of hydropower. Forming a reservoir of 105,5 km , the dam was built on the Paranapanema River between the municipalities of Sandovalina (SP) and Itaguagé (PR). A program for the resettlement of a small group of rural producers which lived on the flooded área was necessary. hi the Environmental Impact Study and in the Environmental Impacts Report of the dam, mitigation measures on the socioenvironmental ímpacts were proposed. This research presents an evaluation ofthe efficiency ofthese measures on minimizing the socioenvironmental impacts caused by the construction of the Taquaruçu Power Plant. FÍrstly an evaluation of the population living conditions was conducted establishing a comparison between the population s socioenvironmental situation before and after the resettlement \'Tazenda Laranjeiras\" (1992), in the municipality of Narandiba (SP). The obtained data during the field investigation received statístical treatment. Simultaneously, previous CESP resettlement projects as Lagoa São Paulo (1978) and Rosanela (1986) were described. The results of the statistícal and descriptive analysis indicated a diminishment of population7s satisfaction, specially with the infrastructure in the resettlement area. In the Laranjeiras Resettlement the main needs observed were in the transportation system and in the health service. It is necessary to emphasize specific social variables in this kind of projects, which are generaly not considered, to better attend the interests and particular needs of resettled populations (AU)