Eduardo Braga argues that paving BR-319 is a ‘blessing’ for Amazonas

Construction

Senator states that he will monitor compliance with the deadline to define the viability of the highway

Manaus (AM) — The commitment to pave BR-319 is one of the focuses of Senator Eduardo Braga (MDB), highlighting the two decades of discussion on the viability of the highway, which is approximately 918 km long. The statement was made during an interview with the local press, on Monday (29).

“It has been a fight for more than 20 years for BR-319, since the droughts we faced in my governments, in 2005 and 2009, during the Covid pandemic, and now once again, with last year’s drought. There is no longer any doubt that it is essential for the people of Amazonas, Roraima and part of Rondônia, and we will demand that the federal government comply with the Working Group deadline”,

he stated.

The Working Group, highlighted in Braga’s speech, concerns a means created, in November 2023, by the Federal Government to debate solutions for infrastructure and sustainability of BR-319, main areas of conflict. The highway provides interstate connection from the capital of Amazonas to Porto Velho, in Rondônia.

During the group’s first meeting, which took place in November, a deadline of 90 days was established for the highway’s viability to be defined. The senator said that he will monitor compliance with the deadline, in addition to highlighting the persistence in carrying out the work and is positive that Amazonas will achieve two “blessings” this year, BR-319 and the new port of Manaus Moderna.

“I guarantee that I will not give up and I will insist, as I did with the gas pipeline, Prosamim, Linhão de Tucuruí and all the necessary works for Amazonas”,

defended.

The Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva (Rede), is against the asphalting of the highway, without due environmental licensing and without taking into account the impact on the population and economy. To announce Marivelton Baré’s pre-candidacy for mayor of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Marina returned to Amazonas last weekend.

According to parliamentarians from Amazonas, the minister is mainly responsible for the embargoes on the continuation of the work. Senator Plínio Valério (PSDB) stated in a post on social media, on Monday (29), that “BR-319 will come out, yes, whether Minister Marina Silva wants it or not” and also declared that the completion of the work it is the “beginning of redemption”.

The former minister of infrastructure of the federal government and current state president of the Liberal Party, Alfredo Nascimento, also criticized Marina Silva for imposing complex requirements for the paving of BR-319 and even described the minister as an “enemy of Amazonas”.

The completion of the highway is also in the interest of the State Government. At the 28th United Nations Conference on Climate Change, COP 28, governor Wilson Lima (União Brasil) highlighted that BR-319 is necessary to combat poverty and guarantee social development. In addition to promoting progress for the state to exit terrestrial isolation in relation to the rest of the country.

Wilson Lima also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to complying with environmental conditions to make the paving project of the so-called “middle section” of BR-319 viable.

“You cannot build an image as a protector of the forest by bringing our population to its knees. It is not fair that the people of the state of Amazonas continue to be isolated from the rest of Brazil. And we will not allow them to prevent us from having contact with the rest of the country by road”, he added.

Read more:

Project approved by the Chamber guarantees more agile resources for completion works on BR-319

Federal Government responds to Fecomércio/AM’s request for recovery of BR-319

At COP-28, Wilson Lima talks about the importance of BR-319 for social development