The Minister of Regional Development, Rogério Marinho, declared, this Monday (31), in an interview with CNN, that the government of São Paulo wants to have an “unnecessary” political clash after sending a letter to the federal government requesting R$ 471.8 million to support municipalities affected by heavy rains on Sunday (30).
“It seems to me that, from the first moment, the way in which the government has reacted is not wanting to solve the problem, it is wanting to make an unnecessary, inappropriate and regrettable political clash”, says Marinho.
“Yesterday, when the disaster happened, I think it was a moment of solidarity and comfort to the families, and for each of us to do our part. We have seen statements in the sense: ‘the federal government did nothing, we are the ones who are going to do something, we are still waiting for a statement, a position’, I think this is not the time. Tempers are unnecessarily heated,” he adds.
The resources will be used, according to the São Paulo Executive, on three fronts: emergency support, intended for municipalities for emergency interventions in infrastructure and support for affected families (R$ 50 million); support for the anti-flood investment policy (R$ 321 million); and improvements in the macro-drainage network in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, with works to implement flood retention reservoirs called “TG-09” (R$ 100 million).
According to Marinho, the government of João Doria (PSDB) knows how to activate the federal government “when there is a need to provide resources and logistical, structural and financial support”. The minister explains that the values for prevention works must be redirected to the National Congress within the scope of the vote on the General Budget of the Union.
“They are not appropriate and adequate for the moment we are going through”, he says.
So far, the Civil Defense of São Paulo has confirmed at least 24 deaths in eight cities in São Paulo as a result of the storms:
- Franco da Rocha: 8 kills
- Francisco Morato: 4 deaths
- Embu das Artes: 3 kills
- Várzea Paulista: 5 deaths
- Aruja: 1 deaths
- Ribeirão Preto: 1 kills
- Jaú: 1 deaths
- Itapevi: 1 deaths
Source: CNN Brasil
