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Court Decision Reverses Injunction Suspending Empabra Activities in Historical Area: City Hall Promises to Appeal and Intensify Oversight!
The court has authorized the resumption of operations by mining company Mineração Pau Branco LTDA (Empabra) in Serra do Curral, in Belo Horizonte. The decision overturns the injunction that prohibited the company’s activities due to allegations of irregularities. Now, the City Hall of BH promises to appeal and intensify oversight in the area to ensure environmental protection, according to otempo.
The Controversial Court Decision
The authorization for the resumption of the mining company’s activities came from the 1st Court of the Municipal Public Treasury of Belo Horizonte. The City Hall of BH, in a statement issued on Thursday night (June 13), stated that it is evaluating the appropriate legal measures to reverse the decision. “We are studying what actions we can take in light of this court ruling that allows the company’s operation in Serra do Curral,” declared PBH.
The city’s environmental inspectors identified signs of illegal mining at Mina do Corumi, which prompted the initial prohibition. The operation involved officials from the Secretariats of Environment and Urban Policy and the Municipal Guard. The mining company was notified of a serious environmental crime, with a fine expected to be nearly R$ 65 thousand. If the mining company is indeed at fault, would that amount be fair?
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Illegal Mining and Residents’ Complaints
The oversight by the City Hall of BH was motivated by complaints from local residents who observed the movement of trucks. According to the city, during the inspection carried out on May 6, deposits of fine ore, dredging of drainage structures, and mineral extraction activities without the proper environmental licensing were identified.
The location, situated in the Cidade Jardim Taquaril neighborhood, is an area of municipal tombamento of the Serra do Curral. The illegal mining raised concerns about the preservation of this historical and environmental heritage of Belo Horizonte. “The residents were right to report the suspicious movement of trucks. Our team confirmed the extraction of ore without licensing,” explained a representative of the city administration.
Response from the Mining Company
In response to the allegations, Mineração Pau Branco LTDA (Empabra) stated that it does not carry out activities that require environmental licensing or municipal authorization and that its operations have been suspended since 2018. The company claimed that its current activities aim only to complete the removal of material to prevent environmental degradation. “We are only finalizing the removal of material to avoid the degradation that the city hall itself wants to prevent,” defended Empabra.
The mining company assured that it intends to cease all activities by June 2024, in accordance with the Mine Closure Plan submitted to the National Mining Agency (ANM). “Our only goal is to complete the definitive closure of the mine, as mandated by the competent authorities,” reiterated the company.
Future of Serra do Curral
Therefore, the Serra do Curral, an important historical and scenic landmark of Belo Horizonte, remains a point of contention between economic and environmental interests. The recent court decision authorizing the mining company’s operations raises questions about the effectiveness of environmental preservation policies in the area.
While the City Hall of BH prepares to appeal the decision, the mining activities of Empabra are being closely monitored again. However, the promise of intensified oversight by the Municipal Guard aims to ensure that no further illegal mineral extraction occurs, safeguarding the city’s natural heritage.
Thus, the situation in Serra do Curral remains tense, with residents, authorities, and the mining company in a constant clash over the future of this area so significant for Belo Horizonte.
Dinheiro comprou as autoridades de Minas e do Brasil pura e vergonha verdade!
Até onde vai para isso acabando com o meio ambiente destruindo uma serra um marco estorico em belo horizonte se as autoridades não conseguem fazer nada e por que foi corrompido também encheu o bolso e abril mão da natureza e do povo,até quando minas até quando Brasil será um país da corrupção, isso é uma falta de respeito uma decisão e um ambiente que nunca vamos ver só em cartaz autoridades toma **** e faz seu trabalho onestamente isso não pode acontecer **** de **** branco , ou melhor **** de **** da carta branca!
No Brasil é assim,quem tem dinheiro mada