Hidrelétricas compensam? Uma análise do caso da UHE Irapé em Minas Gerais

Abstract

This article investigates the socio-economic impacts of Irapé Dam to the counties striked by the Jequitinhonha river in Minas Gerais. Construction that, even after one decade of its implantation, is related to the development of a region considered economically depressed. Through documentary research and interviews, it was identified the transfer of water usage fee and the tax on goods and services which amounts were analyzed having as its reference other rescourses sources, such as the minicipality participation fund among others. We come to the conclusion that the financial legacy of the dam were relatively low, losing meaning in the analyzed period. It is important to mention that the water usage fee was applied with little transparency and it does not answer the demands of the rural comunities and people hit by the the dam. Due to the socio-environmental consequences implantion price these legacies show themselves insignificant and they do not compensate the damage in contrast to the projections of a local economic development.