Interesses, conflitos e contradições no processo de uso e gestão dos recursos hídricos em Campina Grande.

Abstract

This study is a critical analysis on a sociological basis concerning the public politics towards the management of the water resources in the town of Campina Grande, since this municipal district has had problems in its water distribution program, especially in the last few years. The actions taken by those who control this politics are the main point of this reflection, which aims to examine "the contours of this environmental problem" under a social view. The conflicts and contradictions that shape this political sphere, according to the approach of this study, appear to be based on two main points: the state and the municipality. During the evaluation of these actions, contradictions between their formulation and implantation were also noticed considering the model of "participative and decentralized" administration, as stated in the National Law of Water Resources, number 9433 of 1997. These actions seem to be thought and/or taken effect concerning the problematic water system of Campina Grande, and their analysis permitted us to visualize a political-party competition process, thanks to the "movement" of the people who integrate the action field of the public politics. The problematic of this study develops itself around this competition that, even not been its principal analytic focus, plays a great role as it discusses "the symbolic dimension" that this type of conflict has upon the others as noticed in the course of this research.