The Temporary External Commission of Petrópolis, created to monitor the situation resulting from the heavy rains that hit the municipality, approved this Thursday (12) the final report by Senator Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ) that discusses prevention, housing policy and destination of resources to the municipality after the tragedy that left 233 dead in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
According to the report, “it is not enough to have a plan, however current, complete and structured it may be on paper. It is necessary to train all the agencies and entities involved for the effective application of the measures foreseen in the plan when the disaster occurs”, highlight the senators.
The measures taken to face the destructive impacts of the rains in the city were also compiled, obtained from the group’s visits to Petrópolis and from meetings with local authorities, such as Mayor Rubens Bomtempo (PSB).
Among the recommendations, the senators guide the city hall to update the municipal contingency plan with the participation of community leaders, organized civil society and municipal, state and federal agencies.
In addition, the commission cites the “police power”, so that the municipal management can enforce the order to evict places affected by disasters and prevent people from returning to threatened homes.
Among other measures, the text suggests improving rainfall forecasting systems, providing Petrópolis with an entity designed to monitor the city’s geological risks, increase the capacity for rainwater drainage and promote the eviction of risk areas.
Regarding the problems associated with the mental health of the affected population, the commission’s rapporteur proposed to the rapporteur of the General Budget of the Union for 2023 the inclusion of two amendments: one that allocates R$ 1 million to the Ministry of Citizenship, for structuring the network of services of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS), and another that allocates R$ 1.5 million to the Ministry of Health to increase medium and high complexity actions.
The creation of this commission in the Senate was motivated by the heavy rains that hit the municipality earlier this year, which resulted in what is considered by many to be the greatest climate tragedy in the history of Petrópolis.
Chaired by Senator Romário (PL-RJ), the commission promoted four public hearings and an external diligence.
*With information from Agência Senado; published by Giovanna Galvani, with information from Filipe Brasil, from CNN
Source: CNN Brasil
