A transposição do Rio São Francisco, conflitos e mudança social: um estudo sobre a Vila Lafayette no município de Monteiro.

Abstract

This research consists of one effort to discuss the problems regardings the process of transposition of the São Francisco River as a development strategy. Thus, the dissertation aims to analyze the conflicts and social changes resulting from the process of transposition of the São Francisco River, especially the changes that affected the lives of farming families residing in Vila Lafayette, in the city of Monteiro – PB. The issues related to the access of water, as well as work strategies and income Generation are central in this paper. The methodological approach we adopted to develop the dissertation was based on qualitative research, privileging techniques such as documental, bibliographic research and fieldwork. Therefore, we did a recap of how the drought of 1877-1879 was fundamental for the Northeast to become a national political concern, which started a period of major initiatives to combat drought by the Brazilian State. We also discussed how the semiarid region became a space for experimentalism and, at the same time, was ideologically built within the population, especially the poorest, the belief that the next initiative would solve the problem of drought, without putting any effort whatsoever on the issues of land, water and rente concentration. To do so, we reflect using classic interpretations of the northeastern semi-arid region, such as Albuquerque Junior, (2011); Carvalho, (1985) and Bursztyn (2008). Thus, we seek to explain these conflicts since the beginning of the ideas regarding the Transposition, in the 19th century na that still persist nowadays. At multiple times, there was a lack of technologies to transpose the water; in others, there were no resources and political conditions to take the idea forward. The moment came when there was a combination of all these factors, allowing the transposition to happen. In this way, we describe the existing conflicts in the surroundings of the São Francisco Transposition, as well as the implications that arised from the resettlement process of the residents of Vila Lafayette. Finally, we present through evidence the process of deterritorialization of families resettled in Vila Lafayette, and the path towards reterritorialization. These processes are evidenced in the experience of having to cope with water insecurity, in the attempts to transform the lots into productive spaces and even in the conflicts between residents of different origins.