Dam in Minas Requires Urgent Measures
Federal Public Ministry calls for emergency actions to secure the Bicano dam
The Bicano dam in Campina Verde faces an imminent risk of collapse and needs urgent measures to prevent a socio‑environmental tragedy. The Federal Public Ministry advocates emergency actions to ensure the dam's safety.
What’s at stake
The Bicano dam is an earthen structure located in the Campo Belo settlement project in the rural area of Campina Verde. It is 266 meters long and holds about 50,000 cubic meters of water. Recent state technical inspections reported that the site lacks maintenance, showing signs of erosion and water infiltration.
Required measures
The Federal Public Ministry demands that the National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA) carry out an emergency geotechnical assessment and present a structured action plan within 30 days, initiating its execution immediately thereafter. The request also requires INCRA to demonstrate the existence of an early‑warning system for evacuating the population within the same timeframe, and to implement continuous 24‑hour monitoring of the dam, sending weekly reports to the competent authorities.
INCRA’s position
INCRA argued in court that it did not build the dam, which dates back to 1930, and only began to control it in 1997. However, the Federal Public Ministry points out that the agency became legally responsible for the reservoir’s safety when it assumed ownership of the land.
Next steps
The Federal Public Ministry urged the federal court to set a 15‑day deadline for INCRA’s management to confirm the release of the R$ 3 million needed to start the bidding process and the drainage works. The ministry also supported imposing a daily fine of R$ 10,000 for non‑compliance.
With information from Estado de Minas, Federal Public Ministry.
Source: Estado de Minas, Ministério Público Federal