Gestão de águas urbanas: mobilização social em torno de rios invisíveis

Abstract

Modern cities are sold as the image of progress, and built under the aegis of reason, implementing a technosanitarial intervention model in urban rivers. Reflecting on reinvention prospects of social practices in urban planning, gaps are discussed that the intervention model of urban rivers fails to consider the complexity of the world. A brief reflection is made on the processes of occupation of the river basin of Rio das Velhas, and the technical rationality applied at the construction of the Nova Capital from the history of sanitation in Belo Horizonte is presented, from the point of view of spatial hygienical intervention. Then, a reflection on the democratical room for people participation was looked for, questioning how authority is shared in water management, starting with the National Policy on Water Resources in the Rio das Velhas basin. It is considered that the Committee of the Rio das Velhas and its subcomittees, along with the Manuelzão Project and its Centers, develop a social movement in the struggle for living rivers, deducing a vital energy from the decentralization of decision-making in water management in this basin. The last chapter of the research is devoted to the dialogue with the Integrated Centers of the Engenho Nogueira stream and their mutual integration process. The groups were interviewed about training, achievements, individual challenges and their relation with public authorities. Thus, reflections were brought forward on the on Environmental Recovery Program of Belo Horizonte (DRENURBS), which aims at revitalization of rivers and streams, indicating a significant change in the sanitation policy. A reflection on the popular participation, clarifying how terms such as learning alliance and governance is meant and others which opens dialogue like transdisciplinarity and knowledge ecology. Finally, this study records the knowledge and expertise of the individuals participating in the struggle for rivers living in urban environments. Trying to understand their world views consisting of politics, citizenship, participation, science and common se and thus trying to find ways to build dialogue paths of dialogues, if knowledge are transferred and how possibilities are created to promote changes in the perception of reality.