A Gestão de recursos hídricos e os comitês de bacia hidrográfica em Minas Gerais

Abstract

This study is intended to analyze the challenges faced by the Watershed Committees in Minas Gerais as deliberative instances of governance for the management of water resources. Based on the perceptions of representatives of the thirty-six committees collected on a survey, the following topics were analyzed: i) the understanding representatives have of the subjects dealt with in the committees; ii) the composition of the committees; iii) their administrative and organizational structures; iv) main difficulties and obstacles; and v) the influence of the committees' in other spheres (state and municipal legislature, civil society, the productive sector and public opinion). It was observed that there is still need to improve technical competence of representatives of local governments who lack training, as well as the structures of technical chambers that support the committees on decision-making and publicity, in addition to obstacles regarding the availability of financial resources, low participation of representatives in the meetings, mainly concerning distant municipalities and lack of political priority. Other indications were the participation of the committees in other spheres, especially in the political one. Therefore, it has been made difficult for the committees to act as effective deliberative spaces.