Construction Of $500 Million Tunnel Is Halted Due To Deforestation, And Each Tree Cut Down Will Cost R$ 100 Thousand

Written by Alisson Ficher

Published on 13/11/2024 at 22:55

Justiça suspende obra de túnel entre Sena Madureira e Ricardo Jafet. Impacto ambiental e investimento bilionário geram polêmica. (Imagem; ilustração Inteligência Artificial)

Seja o primeiro a reagir!

The construction of the tunnel that will connect Rua Sena Madureira to Avenida Ricardo Jafet, in the South Zone of São Paulo, is surrounded by a series of environmental and social concerns.

Amid protests and legal actions, the São Paulo court ordered a halt to the works on Wednesday (13), complying with a public civil action filed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of São Paulo (MP-SP).

The suspension remains in effect until the completion of an assessment, which will evaluate the environmental damage and check for possible technical irregularities in the licensing.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Investigation into Environmental Damage and Costs

The decision from the 2nd Public Finance Court includes a daily fine of R$ 50,000 if activities continue and R$ 100,000 for each tree removed, a hefty penalty for a project that plans to cut down 172 trees, 78 of which are native.

This project of significant environmental impact is located in a Special Area for Environmental Protection (ZEPAM), an area recognized for its ecological importance.

For the experts appointed by the court, the challenge will be to assess whether it is possible to continue the project without further compromising the local ecosystem and whether the environmental licensing process was conducted properly.

In response, the City Attorney’s Office has not yet been officially notified but has already indicated it will take the necessary measures.

The consortium responsible for the project, led by Álya Construtora (formerly Queiroz Galvão), has chosen not to comment at this time.

Billion-Dollar Investment and Transparency in Debate

Started more than a decade ago and initially estimated at around R$ 220 million, the tunnel project has now ballooned to a current cost of R$ 531 million.

This increase is due to contract addendums and ongoing supervision, in addition to adjustments to mitigate environmental and social impacts.

The project was recently resumed by Mayor Ricardo Nunes, marked by controversies regarding the choice of the same construction company, which has been involved in corruption allegations in previous projects.

Moreover, to meet legal requirements and reduce environmental impacts, the project has already incurred R$ 34 million in supervision costs.

Environmental organizations and urban planners question the lack of transparency, especially regarding the criteria for selecting the company and the plans for environmental compensation.

On the other hand, municipal authorities defend the project as necessary to improve traffic and urban mobility in the region.

The removal of trees is not the only factor causing tension in the local community. About 150 families, who have lived in the Souza Ramos and Luiz Alves communities for decades, are being displaced to make way for the project.

These residents have been in the area since 1945, and the location where they are situated is a Special Zone of Social Interest (ZEIS).

Despite the City Hall promising alternatives for compensation or relocation, the details have yet to be disclosed, and residents report uncertainties regarding their future.

Dissatisfaction also comes from environmentalists and neighborhood movements, who organize protests and argue that the project should better respect the environment and the rights of local communities.

In addition to the removal of trees, the project is affecting the Embuçu Stream, one of the last open watercourses in São Paulo, posing risks of soil contamination and loss of biodiversity in the area.

Controversy and Discussions About the Future of the Project

The construction of the tunnel between Rua Sena Madureira and Avenida Ricardo Jafet remains on hold, but discussions regarding it are far from over.

Experts are divided on the need for such a project.

While some engineers and urban planners support the expansion to solve traffic problems, others believe that the social and environmental impacts outweigh the benefits.

According to environmentalists, the project jeopardizes the future of the ecological corridor, and City Hall needs to provide greater transparency and engage with the public to mitigate the consequences.

Pressure on the municipal government to commit to sustainable and just solutions is growing as more questions about the project arise.

With an investment of over half a billion reais, the tunnel reflects a dilemma between urban development and environmental conservation.

What do you think about the impact of such large-scale projects? To what extent does urban mobility justify changes in the environment and in people’s lives?

43 Comentários

Mais recente

Mais antigos Mais votado

Feedbacks

Visualizar todos comentários

Talita

#78551

16/11/2024 10:11

Interessante, que a maioria das pessoas comentando não devem saber muito sobre a região. Árvores ali, mais antigas que a propria Sena Madureira. O trânsito lá é caótico? SIM. Mas não justifica a derrubada das árvores. Se fossem removidas e replantadas, ok. O que não ocorrerá. Não há transparência por parte desse carioca ****, a mais de 15 anos se briga, não por conta da obra, mas por ela estar sendo feita de qualquer jeito ….. Questões ambientais são necessárias SIM! Estão achando ruim?, NÓS, MORADORES estamos com a razao!

Responder

Jose silva

#78526

16/11/2024 09:53

Tudo isso pode ser resolvido sem precisar cobrar 100 mil por cada árvore através de uma gestao pensada e bem estudada pois esse tunel sera um corredor que vai facilitar muito o deslocamentona regiao…..acho que o que está havendo é criar problemas pra vender soluções….

Responder

Paula Guimarães de Souza Palmeira

#78520

16/11/2024 09:52

Nesta altura das mudanças climáticas é necessário preservar toda a natureza ou pagar o preço levando a raça humana a extinção.

Responder

Construction Of $500 Million Tunnel Is Halted Due To Deforestation, And Each Tree Cut Down Will Cost R$ 100 Thousand

Investigation into Environmental Damage and Costs

Billion-Dollar Investment and Transparency in Debate

Controversy and Discussions About the Future of the Project

While in Brazil a 10-story building takes 2 years to complete, in China a company stacks pre-fabricated modules and raises the entire building in just 28 hours and 45 minutes.

BRICS is preparing a payment system inspired by the Brazilian PIX that will allow direct transactions between countries using national digital currencies without relying on the dollar or Western banks as intermediaries.

The oldest tree in the world, alive since before the birth of Jesus Christ, is cut down in a scientific study and the case changes environmental preservation rules.

After ten days orbiting the Moon, science confirms that the astronauts of the Artemis II mission return with altered bodies.

On the coast of China, fishermen received an official reward after finding 10 foreign underwater devices capable of “stealing secrets” in just two years, showing that the silent war for the seabed has already reached the nets of those who rely on fishing.

An entire island in the Pacific wants to surround itself with a colossal barrier against the ocean to try to escape increasingly violent waves and not be swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.

After decades of selling cushioning and extreme protection, the new craze in trails and hiking shoes is precisely taking off your shoes.

With a 1.0 turbo engine producing 116 hp, the Volkswagen Polo Highline joins the club of the cheapest cars in Brazil with a discount of R$ 18,000 in the PcD version.

In the far south of Brazil, there is a city where the main street is divided between two countries, and a simple crossing of the avenue places the visitor in front of the Uruguayan peso, free shops, and another culture.

The Brazilian city that was once called the Valley of Death made it to the list of the most polluted in the world and later transformed into an industrial powerhouse that now concentrates chemicals, steel, energy, and one of the most radical turnarounds in the country.

In the Saudi Arabian desert, scientists discovered engravings dating back 12,000 years that may have served to indicate water, guide movements, and reveal how ancient hunters survived in a landscape that is now almost uninhabitable.

Public transportation in Brazil may face fare increases with the new 40-hour workweek, resulting in a billion-dollar impact on costs and growing pressure on companies and operations.

Construction Of $500 Million Tunnel Is Halted Due To Deforestation, And Each Tree Cut Down Will Cost R$ 100 Thousand

The construction of the tunnel, budgeted at R$ 531 million, was suspended by the court due to environmental and social issues. The project involves the removal of 172 trees and the displacement of 150 families.

Investigation into Environmental Damage and Costs

Billion-Dollar Investment and Transparency in Debate

Displacement of Residents and Social Impact

Controversy and Discussions About the Future of the Project

While in Brazil a 10-story building takes 2 years to complete, in China a company stacks pre-fabricated modules and raises the entire building in just 28 hours and 45 minutes.

BRICS is preparing a payment system inspired by the Brazilian PIX that will allow direct transactions between countries using national digital currencies without relying on the dollar or Western banks as intermediaries.

The oldest tree in the world, alive since before the birth of Jesus Christ, is cut down in a scientific study and the case changes environmental preservation rules.

After ten days orbiting the Moon, science confirms that the astronauts of the Artemis II mission return with altered bodies.

On the coast of China, fishermen received an official reward after finding 10 foreign underwater devices capable of “stealing secrets” in just two years, showing that the silent war for the seabed has already reached the nets of those who rely on fishing.

An entire island in the Pacific wants to surround itself with a colossal barrier against the ocean to try to escape increasingly violent waves and not be swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.

After decades of selling cushioning and extreme protection, the new craze in trails and hiking shoes is precisely taking off your shoes.

Public transportation in Brazil may face fare increases with the new 40-hour workweek, resulting in a billion-dollar impact on costs and growing pressure on companies and operations.

The U.S. ambassador issues a direct threat to the president of Peru on social media after the country postponed the billion-dollar purchase of 24 military jets, and the statement on behalf of the Trump administration raises an alarm about American pressure in Latin America.

Chinese retirees over 60 continue to work in manual labor because the rural pension of 163 yuan per month does not cover even the basics.

The government releases credit of R$ 15 billion through BNDES and prioritizes exporters and strategic sectors affected by the war in the Middle East and U.S. tariffs.

With lighter taxes, simpler rules, and record-breaking housing, Paraguay has started to ‘import’ Brazilians en masse, from entrepreneurs and retirees to factory owners.

With a 1.0 turbo engine producing 116 hp, the Volkswagen Polo Highline joins the club of the cheapest cars in Brazil with a discount of R$ 18,000 in the PcD version.

In the far south of Brazil, there is a city where the main street is divided between two countries, and a simple crossing of the avenue places the visitor in front of the Uruguayan peso, free shops, and another culture.

The Brazilian city that was once called the Valley of Death made it to the list of the most polluted in the world and later transformed into an industrial powerhouse that now concentrates chemicals, steel, energy, and one of the most radical turnarounds in the country.

In the Saudi Arabian desert, scientists discovered engravings dating back 12,000 years that may have served to indicate water, guide movements, and reveal how ancient hunters survived in a landscape that is now almost uninhabitable.

Public transportation in Brazil may face fare increases with the new 40-hour workweek, resulting in a billion-dollar impact on costs and growing pressure on companies and operations.