The urban population, settlers and riverains of the municipality of Juruti are suffering the social and environmental impacts arising from the installation of a bauxite mining by Omnia Minrios Ltda (Alcoa Alumnio S/A) in the region. Since 2006 the water quality of the streams and the Jar Lake, which supplies Juruti, has been showing signs of compromise. Social movements, militants in the region have denounced the damage of water resources, reduction of fish, preventing the right to come and go from the bordering, decreased Brazil nut collecting, andiroba and other protein sources and resources of plants used for medicinal purposes. At a public hearing held in 2007, a request for suspension of license for Alcoas project was formalised by the agronomist Marcial Cano Mota to prosecutors Raimundo Moraes, Gianne Pauxis Fort Figueiredo and Prosecutor Daniel Azeredo Avelino. At the end of May 2007, five prosecutors and two public prosecutors handed over to Governor Ana Jlia Carepa recommendation of cancellation of the license of Omnia to exploit bauxite in Juruti. The MP requested the review of licensing, to admire the obligation to compensate for the social and economic impacts of the mine in Juruti. In addition to the mine, a railway is part of the enterprise. This fact that intensifies the related environmental impacts. As a way of compensating, the company proposes the creation of a conservation unit in Juruti Velho Lake region, which would prevent the access of local communities to various natural resources. In January 28, 2009, about 1500 people blocked, the area of the railway, highway, port, and has occupied the entrance to the companys operational base in protest against the impacts of the project. Despite protests, in September 2009 the Government of Par State has granted operating license to Alcoa. The conflict remains today. Among the main opponents of the project is the Associao das Comunidades da Regio de Juruti Velho (Acorjuve). (See less) |