The Government of Parana published on Tuesday (11) a decree waiving for 180 days the need for environmental licenses, permits and grants to carry out emergency works in municipalities in cases of public disasters. The main objective of this measure, signed by the Water and Land Institute (IAT), is to accelerate the reconstruction of the city of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, in the south-central part of the state, which was devastated by an F3 category hurricane last Friday (7).
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According to the IAT, the exemption only applies to interventions considered urgent, such as clean-up areas, rebuilding homes and restoring essential services, and will apply exclusively to municipalities that have a recognized disaster ordinance. The state government stated that the ordinance seeks to remove bureaucratic hurdles without compromising environmental inspection.
– We are dealing with an emergency that requires speed and coordination – said IAT President Everton Souza.
This measure is in addition to the package of emergency measures announced by Governor Ratinho Junior (PSD), which expects investments of up to R$120 million in the city’s reconstruction, including the construction of 320 affordable homes within 90 days and the payment of aid of up to R$50,000 to families who will need to renovate their homes.
On Tuesday, the mobilization of 139 heavy machines and hundreds of workers allowed the liberation of a large portion of the city’s streets. According to Civil Defense, efforts are now focused on removing the rubble and providing access to the damaged properties.
Despite the progress, traffic still requires attention. With so much large equipment in operation and crews working in almost every neighborhood, traffic remains restricted in some areas.
As of early Tuesday evening (11), 23 people remained in hospitals in the region, five of them in intensive care units. There are eleven patients in Guarapuava, nine in Laranjeiras do Sul and three in Cascavel.
The Ministry of Health reported that three new patients were admitted during the past 24 hours, all of them suffering from suture infections or injuries sustained during the rebuilding process of damaged homes. The number of people injured since the disaster exceeds 800, according to civil defense data.
The hurricane, which had wind speeds between 300 km/h and 330 km/h, was responsible for killing seven people, destroying about 1,500 homes and affecting more than 90% of the buildings in Río Bonito do Iguaçu. Estimated losses exceed R$114 million, according to a survey conducted by the National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM).
In addition to sending IAT equipment and technical teams, the state government has also mobilized prison workers to help rebuild schools and day care centres. The Paraná Housing Company (Cohapar) negotiates emergency contracts with construction companies to build new homes, prioritizing industrial construction methods that reduce delivery time.
While power and water supplies have begun to be restored, the municipality remains in a state of general disaster. The Federal Government has already realized the situation and is considering releasing the FGTS disaster to the affected residents.
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