Repercussões territoriais e econômicas em Aratiba-RS, a partir da construção da usina hidrelétrica Itá

Abstract

The current work consists in a research whose theme is focused in the city of Aratiba, located in the north of the state of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil, focusing the territorial and economic repercussions projected in the refered county, from the construction of the Usina Hidrelétrica Itá (Hydroeletric Power Plant Itá). This analysis refers to the repercussion in the city actual context, highlighting the concerning issues to the primary, secondary and terciary sectors, besides the city aspects related to the health, education, population, economics and finances. The overall objective that guided this work was systematize, elucidate and discuss about the changes occured in Aratiba's territorial and economic configuration, especially after the year of 2000, when the Usina Hidrelétrica Itá became fully operational, passing financial compensation to the city and receive the return of the ICMS (Tax on movement of goods and services) paid by the Power Plant to the State. Thus, data and information were compared preceding and following this date. The research is justified for being the only work realized with the theme that involves the UHE Itá and the city of Aratiba, therefore a source of data, query and analysis for future research. As methodological procedures, it was held a bibliographic review of printed and eletronic materials available, research in agencies and departments of the city administration and in the Environmental Disclosure Center of UHE Itá, as well informal interviews, whose objective focused in getting some necessary additional information for the work. Therefore the research is characterized as quantitative, qualitative, exploratory and descriptive. It was understood that the implementation of a hydroeletric project, not only transform the space during the construction period, but for many years that follow its full operation, continues reflecting on the enviroment, in the territory and in the economy of the affected cities, as in the case studied. We conclude that the financial tranfers and the revenue generation from the UHE Itá is part economic and territorial organization of the city of Aratiba, and in this context was created and idea that Aratiba is a city with great fund raising and, from that, perhaps it created a misguided conception that programs (social or other groups) run by the city government will be forever and won't affect the local economy. Finally, it's concluded that for the financial transfers from UHE Itá continue to impacting significantly in Aratiba's economy and territory, the city couldn't develop to the point of becoming a medium or large city.