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A crucial project valued at R$100 million has been halted after the PCC expelled the company responsible and occupied the site. The future of the project, vital for the community and the region, is uncertain, while organized crime challenges public authorities.
A crucial project to combat flooding in Paraisópolis, in the south of São Paulo, is at imminent risk. Organized crime, represented by Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) interrupted the works to channel the Antonico stream, budgeted at more than R$100 million, in a movement that directly challenges public authorities. But how did this situation get to this point?
Since the beginning of August, workers from the company responsible for the project have been forced to abandon the site after threats from the PCC.
According to reports from residents, collected by the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, the criminal faction ordered the workers to be removed and occupied the areas around the stream, where houses were removed in 2022 to allow the works to continue.
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Growth of new construction
Recent drone footage, compared to satellite photos from months earlier, reveals the rapid construction of new housing on the banks of the Antonico stream.
In a stretch of approximately 500 meters, where there was previously clear land, now there are wooden and masonry buildings, many of which are already in an advanced state of construction.
According to residents, this occupation follows a common pattern: first, wooden shacks appear, followed by brick houses.
This Tuesday (03), the City of São Paulo resumed part of the work, demolishing around ten houses built in risk areas along the Antonico.
According to the municipal housing secretary, Milton Vieira, the removals were only possible after obtaining a court order for repossession, issued the day before. “Some families resisted leaving, but we obtained the court order to proceed,” said Vieira.
Crime and occupation: who are the new residents?
According to residents, the families now occupying the banks of the stream are not originally from Paraisópolis. They claim that these people were brought from other regions by members of the PCC, in a possible attempt to extort public authorities in exchange for compensation.
Furthermore, armed criminals were positioned at the site to prevent the workers from returning and to intimidate even the neighbors.
The climate of tension is evident throughout the favela, intensified by an alleged internal conflict between factions of the PCC itself. This clash is making dialogue between organized crime and traditional community leaders difficult, whose influence is being challenged like never before.
Strategic work for Paraisópolis and Morumbi
The channeling of the Antonico stream is a work of great importance for the community of Paraisópolis and for the region of the Morumbi stadium.
It is estimated that around 1 million people will benefit from this intervention, which includes, in addition to channeling, the removal of buildings in risk areas, the readaptation of housing units and the implementation of drainage, water and sewage networks.
However, while the section in Paraisópolis remains paralyzed, works in other areas outside the favela continue to progress.
The City of São Paulo, under the management of Ricardo Nunes (MDB), states that the interventions in Antonico, divided into six sections, have a planned budget of R$113 million. To date, R$30,6 million has already been invested in works, expropriations and compensation, according to an official statement.
Positioning of the authorities
Regarding the actions of organized crime, the city government assured that it is collaborating with the police authorities, who are under the jurisdiction of the state government, to resolve the impasse. “Any demands from the authorities will be met by this administration,” the note states.
The Public Security Secretariat of the state of São Paulo, under the management of Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), reported that a representative of the company responsible for the works registered a police report reporting the invasions.
“The case was registered as non-criminal, as there was no report of a crime at the time. The Civil Police are investigating the complaints and are at the victims' disposal to gather more information,” says an excerpt from the official note.
According to the state government, the Military Police participated in a meeting with the bodies involved in the repossession process and is providing support to the Justice Department.
Uncertain future and challenges for Paraisópolis
The future of the Antonico stream canalization project remains uncertain. The situation in Paraisópolis is a clear example of the challenges faced by authorities in areas dominated by organized crime, where the government has difficulty ensuring the continuity of essential projects for the population.
The company responsible for the affected section of the project, Transvias, was contacted by Folha de S. Paulo, but, according to the newspaper, the company chose not to comment. Likewise, the leaders of the Paraisópolis community did not respond to the contacts made by the newspaper's reporter.
What now? What does the future hold for Paraisópolis? With a crucial project paralyzed by organized crime, do you believe that the authorities will be able to regain control and complete the project? Leave your opinion in the comments!
