In allusion to the World Water Day, celebrated today (22), the Minister of Regional Development, Rogério Marinho, took stock of the works to transpose the São Francisco River and the works of sanitation and expansion of the treated water distribution network in the Brazil, especially in the Northeast Region.
In a speech on national radio and television, Marinho affirmed the importance of water and sanitation in the lives of Brazilians. According to the minister, with the transposition of the São Francisco River, 16.5 million people will benefit in 545 municipalities in seven states.
“We are implementing the largest water infrastructure program ever seen in our country. With more than 3 thousand kilometers of canals and pipelines ready, under construction or to be built. These are structuring and transformative actions,” he said.
According to Marinho, Brazil should reach the level of R$ 700 billion in infrastructure works related to water and basic sanitation by 2033 – a result of the Sanitation Legal Frameworksanctioned on July 15, 2020. Currently, the eight auctions held after the Legal Framework have guaranteed around BRL 45 billion for the sector.
The minister also mentioned the program Brazilian waterswhich revitalizes watersheds and encourages the development of regions with a low socioeconomic index.
Rogério Marinho explained that, in addition to the economic and social advantages, the guarantee of water and sanitation can also be considered a basic health measure and reaffirmed the importance of supply in regions that historically suffer from a lack of water.
“The waters of Velho Chico will put the Northeast on a new level of development. It will lessen pressure on the healthcare system and infant mortality,” she explained.
Watch the speech:
