The Public Defender's Office of Amazonas (DPE-AM) has requested clarifications from the Amazon Environmental Protection Institute (Ipaam) about possible environmental damage caused by dredging in the Solimões River, near the Nossa Senhora Aparecida community, known as Prainha, in the municipality of Careiro da Várzea, in the Manaus metropolitan region.
The move followed reports from residents of collapses along the riverbanks, the presence of oil in the water and harm to fishing. According to the community, the work began last Tuesday (27) without consultation or prior notice to the population. The request was sent to Ipaam on Friday (30), after a collective service carried out by public defenders Carlos Almeida Filho and Roger Queiroz.
Carlos Almeida, head of the Specialized Public Defender's Office for Collective Affairs (DPEIC), said residents also raised concerns about the safety of homes close to the river. Erosion could force families to change address, with costs estimated at around R$ 40,000. "Dredging brings problems for families because it amplifies the phenomenon of the 'terras caídas,' since the activity increases the river's draft, causing the water to pass through with more speed," he said.
Residents also reported that the water would be unfit for consumption because of the presence of oil. They further raised the suspicion that the company responsible for the service is selling sand removed from the riverbed, an allegation that still needs to be clarified.
In the document sent to Ipaam, the Public Defender's Office asks the agency to state whether the dredging has a license or other authorization to be carried out at the site. The institution also requested copies of the documents, the identification of those responsible for the service and information on possible risks associated with the activity. According to Carlos Almeida, the request was forwarded over the weekend because of the urgency of the situation reported by residents.
The Public Defender's Office also asked Ipaam to take immediate measures if it identifies a lack of authorization or risks to the environment and to public safety. Among the steps requested is an assessment of the need to suspend the dredging until the regularity of the service is clarified.
Sources: G1.