Federal government did not block water in the Northeast – 09/22/2023 – Market

Content shared on social media that associates water supply problems in the Northeast with blockages allegedly carried out by the federal government is misleading. The publication on TikTok uses an excerpt from a video by deputy Leandro de Jesus, in which he mentions the rate of malnutrition in babies in Bahia amid his criticism of the PT. The excerpt was taken out of context because the deputy’s criticisms are addressed to the government of Bahia and not to the federal government.

As verified by Projeto Comprova, the post, which features images of the transposition of the São Francisco River without water in the background, attempts to relate the criticisms to the supposed lack of water in parts of the transposition.

The report found that, in the case of the municipalities in Ceará mentioned in the first video, there was no blockade or stoppage of pumping by the Lula (PT) government. According to the Ceará Water Resources Secretariat, the only time when the release of water was paused occurred in November 2022, still during the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL). At the time, a crack in the structure of the Salgueiro Pumping Station, in Pernambuco, caused the supply to be interrupted for maintenance.

The municipality of Santana, in the interior of Bahia, mentioned in the second video, does not depend on the crossing of the São Francisco River to obtain water, according to the municipal administration.

Comprova was unable, until this check was completed, to confirm where or when the transposition section shown in the investigated videos was filmed.

Misleading, for Comprova, is any content taken from the original context and used in another in such a way that its meaning changes; that uses inaccurate data or that leads to an interpretation different from the intention of its author; content that confuses, with or without the deliberate intent to cause harm.

Why we investigate

Comprova monitors suspicious content published on social networks and messaging applications about public policies and elections at the federal level and opens investigations into those publications that have greater reach and engagement. You can also suggest checks via WhatsApp +55 11 97045-4984. Suggestions and questions related to questionable content can also be sent to Sheet via WhatsApp 11 99486-0293.

Read the full verification on the Projeto Comprova website.

The investigation of this content was carried out by Jornal do Commercio and Portal Norte and published on September 20 by Projeto Comprova, a coalition that brings together 41 vehicles to check viral content. It was verified by Folha, UOL, Nexo and Metrópoles.