Two new floodgates could be built on the Itajaí Mirim River to avoid floods like those that occurred over the weekend in Itajaí, on the north coast of Santa Catarina. In recent weeks, the project was registered for resources under the federal government’s New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC).

Flooding was recorded at the lowest points and near the city’s rivers over the weekend – Photo: Itajaí City Hall/Reproduction/ND

The proposal aims to minimize the effects of flooding in the city and is expected to cost more than 114 million reais. In the first phase, two locks will be built downstream and upstream of the river to control the effects of tides and salt water.

This measure also aims to avoid blocking the water where the old channel meets the straightened channel. After this stage, the project will seek resources to dredge the river and remove and improve embankments.

In addition, two other drainage and disaster prevention initiatives are registered with the PAC, covering the areas of Fazenda, São Vicente and São João. The total amount of these proposals amounts to more than R$30 million of investment in the area.

Another 19 proposals, totaling about half a billion reais, were registered by the Municipal Strategic Planning Office (PEMI) to receive investments under the program.

“This year alone we have experienced three floods. This phenomenon is repeated in our city as we live in a place surrounded by rivers. Therefore, finding solutions that can alleviate this problem is very important. We have registered three projects to prevent natural disasters, and the dredging of the Itajai-Mirim River is one of the main initiatives,” says Itajai Mayor Volney Morastoni.

Projects beyond flood control

There are other priority initiatives not related to floods registered with the PAC. Among them:

• construction of three kindergartens and two full-day schools in the areas of Santa Regina, Cidade Nova and San Francisco de Assis;
• construction of three basic health posts in Santa Regina, Limoeiro and Nossa Senhora das Grasas, as well as a Center for Psychosocial Assistance (CAPS);
• creation of a maternity hospital, emergency care for children and a natural birth center;
• purchase of a mobile dental unit;
• and the construction of a public sports field in the Nossa Senhora das Grasas area.

Proposals for the regularization of land in the areas of São Vicente and Cidade Nova, as well as sewerage and water supply projects, were also included in the Growth Acceleration Program.

What will the new PAC look like?

The federal government’s new PAC aims to implement priority projects submitted by states and municipalities in critical areas such as health, education, social and urban infrastructure and mobility. 136 billion reais have been reserved for the work.

In the first selection stage, 65.4 billion reais will be allocated, in the second – 70.6 billion reais.

The registration phase of the first phase ended on the 12th of this month. From now on, the ministries will evaluate the applications received and check whether all conditions of the notifications are met.

“We have registered 20 projects that we consider important for the city of Itajaí in the coming years and that require investments of more than 500 million reais. The federal government is expected to announce the results of the first phase of selecting a new PAC this year,” explains PEMI Executive Director Alcides Volpato.