Atuação dos Subcomitês da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio das Velhas na Gestão dos Recursos Hídricos

Abstract

The Subcommittees are important tools in managing water resources in the Hydrographic Basin Committee of the “Velhas” river. These agencies are advisory and propositive entities that function obligatorily with the participation of the three segments of the society (public authority, water users and organized civil society), being an advance in the decentralization of water management. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the institutional performance and social capital of seven Subcommittees of the hydrographic basin of the “Velhas” river: “Jequitibá” river, “Paraúna” river, “Curimataí” river, “Taquaraçu” river, “Mata” creek, “Arrudas” creek and “ Riachinho” that belongs to the hydrographic basin of the “Velhas” river. It was used a qualitative research study which was based on the application of 18 questionnaires and 12 interviews with 27 members (president and former president of CBH-Velhas, coordinators and representatives of the three social groups) involved in the management of these Subcommittees and of the CBH-Velhas. For the evaluation of institutional performance it was made an analysis from the following indicators: decision making, resource mobilization and management, internal and external communication and conflict resolution mechanisms. To describe the Social Capital it was evaluated the perception of two components: structural and cognitive. The structural perception is based on the existence of associations and recognition of social networks, of the structure and internal features of the Subcommittees. The cognitive aspects are based on the evaluation of trust, solidarity, reciprocity and cooperation on the internal and external scoop. About the questionnaires, specific questions were performed to assess the indicators (included in institutional performance and / or in social capital) ,in the case of interviews, it was analyzed the speech of the interviewees in order to collect the impressions addressing the indicators mentioned above. Among the difficulties encountered in institutional performance it can mentioned: the absence of wider legislation, to delegate more powers to these agencies, the lack of a good infrastructure, a shortage of financial, technical and human resources, low autonomy and lack of its own headquarters. However, even if there are some challenges and difficulty in performing the actions, these agencies are developing a responsible job, consciously and effectively, within the limitations, in the communities where they operate and this is due in part to the process of strengthening and building a social capital in these five years of the existence of the Subcommittees. The conclusion of the study is that the strategy of action by the Basin Committee and the relation with the subcommittees is satisfactory because it is grounded in the particular reality of each sub-basin and a construction process of decentralized management, within the existing structural constraints. It should be noted that the existence and continuity of the Subcommittees should be based on the improvement of institutional performance and the strengthening of social capital. In this sense the role of social innovators, similar to the role played by the project “Manuelzão” are important in the process of building and strengthening social networks that support the work of the Subcommittees of the “Velhas” river Committee itself.