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The arrival of the waters of the Velho Chico to the Potiguar territory represents more than a water infrastructure project: it symbolizes decades of struggle against drought, regional development, and a new horizon for thousands of families in the semi-arid region
The arrival of the waters from the São Francisco River transposition to Rio Grande do Norte marks a historic moment for the water security of the Northeast. Moreover, it represents decades of investments in infrastructure and planning. More than a major engineering project, the advance of the waters through the Ramal do Apodi symbolizes development, citizenship, and social justice for thousands of families in the semi-arid region.
The information was released by Brasil 247, in an article published in July 2026 and signed by the governor of Rio Grande do Norte, Fátima Bezerra. In the text, the manager recalls her childhood marked by drought. At the same time, she highlights the historical importance of the arrival of the Velho Chico waters to the Potiguar territory.
Memories of drought help explain the importance of the transposition
Recalling her childhood in Nova Palmeira, in the Seridó region of Paraíba, Fátima Bezerra describes a reality experienced by millions of Northeasterners for decades.
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According to her, the drought was never just a climatic phenomenon. In practice, it meant empty reservoirs. It also caused food shortages. Moreover, it destroyed crops, caused the death of animals, and increased daily concerns about water supply.
The governor states that she lived this reality since childhood. Therefore, she considers the arrival of the transposition waters one of the most emotional moments of her public career.
According to the account, witnessing the water crossing the Major Sales Tunnel and reaching the Ramal do Apodi represents much more than seeing the completion of a major engineering project. In the manager’s assessment, this moment symbolizes the reparation of a historical debt to the Northeastern people.
Furthermore, she states that the project demonstrates how public investments can transform the reality of regions historically affected by drought.
Project strengthens the water security of the Northeast
For decades, a large part of the population in the semi-arid region had to live with long periods of drought. Even so, thousands of families resisted. However, as Fátima Bezerra highlights, it was never acceptable to consider hunger, thirst, and poverty as inevitable consequences of the climate.
According to her, the biggest challenge has always been related to social inequalities exacerbated by water scarcity. For this reason, investments in water infrastructure have come to be considered fundamental for promoting economic development, social inclusion, and quality of life.
In this context, the São Francisco River Integration Project became one of the largest water security initiatives in Brazil’s history.
The project required large investments. Additionally, it demanded complex engineering solutions and long-term planning. Similarly, it faced legal disputes, political debates, and misinformation campaigns throughout its execution.
Even in the face of these challenges, the project advanced. As a result, it began to gradually transform the reality of thousands of northeastern municipalities.
According to Fátima Bezerra, then-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made the political decision to take the project off the drawing board because he understood the importance of water for the development of the semi-arid region.
Furthermore, according to the governor, Lula knew this reality up close. After all, he also lived his childhood in the Northeast, in Caetés, Pernambuco.
Therefore, she states that the transposition never meant just building canals, tunnels, and dams. On the contrary, it always represented the guarantee of a basic right. Moreover, it symbolized the possibility for thousands of families to remain on their land, produce food, and build a future with more dignity.
Works advanced and consolidated a historic project
Fátima Bezerra recalls that she followed the São Francisco River Integration Project from the start of the works, in 2007, when she served as a federal deputy.
According to her, the governments of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff executed more than 90% of the works. However, the project was not fully completed in the following years. As a result, thousands of families continued to wait for definitive access to water.
Later, between 2015 and 2016, when she chaired the Senate Federal Regional Development and Tourism Commission, Fátima states that she placed the water security of the Northeast among the priorities of the national agenda.
During that period, the Water Caravan traveled through several northeastern states. Additionally, it brought together parliamentarians, universities, researchers, farmers, popular movements, public managers, and representatives of the productive sector.
According to the governor, the initiative reinforced an essential message: water cannot be a privilege. Water is a right for everyone.
New PAC accelerated the arrival of waters to Rio Grande do Norte
According to Fátima Bezerra, the resumption of the works gained new momentum with the return of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the Presidency of the Republic, in 2023.
During the definition of the priorities of the New PAC, the governor states that she placed the completion of water infrastructure as the main demand of Rio Grande do Norte.
According to her, this decision reflected a personal, ethical, and political commitment to the families living in the semi-arid region.
With this, the works of the Ramal do Apodi advanced. Subsequently, the Túnel Major Sales was completed. Thus, the waters finally crossed the border between Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte.
Another milestone mentioned by the governor was the inauguration of the Barragem de Oiticica, held alongside President Lula in March 2025.
Initially, the waters strengthened the Piranhas-Açu basin. Later, they reached the Apodi-Mossoró basin through the Ramal do Apodi.
According to Fátima Bezerra, this advancement completed a historical cycle. For the first time, the São Francisco River Integration Project began to benefit all regions of Rio Grande do Norte.
Water drives development, agriculture, and quality of life
In the governor’s assessment, the benefits of the work go far beyond human supply.
According to her, water security expands agricultural production. Moreover, it strengthens family farming. It also boosts the regional economy, attracts new investments, and improves the quality of life for future generations.
Similarly, the permanent availability of water favors the sustainable development of the semi-arid region and reduces the impacts caused by long periods of drought.
Throughout the article, Fátima Bezerra repeatedly associates the arrival of the waters with values such as health, citizenship, freedom, and dignity.
She also recalls significant childhood moments. Among them, the memory of sharing food with her siblings during times of scarcity. According to the governor, this experience explains the emotion of witnessing the arrival of Velho Chico to the state.
Furthermore, she states that when observing the transposition channels, she does not see just concrete and engineering structures.
In your view, each part of the work represents farmers producing food, families staying in the countryside, children growing up with more opportunities, and communities building a safer future.
For Fátima Bezerra, the transposition of the São Francisco River represents much more than a major infrastructure project. Above all, it symbolizes hope, regional development, water security, and social justice.
According to the governor, after centuries of living with scarcity, the semi-arid region is beginning to write a new chapter in its history. This time, water arrives as a permanent instrument of social transformation, economic growth, and improved quality of life for millions of Northeasterners.
In your opinion, which other structuring projects should be prioritized to transform the lives of populations in the Brazilian semi-arid region?
