Planning instruments, urban expansion, and administrative spheres: Conflicts and contradictions within the Corumbá IV Hydroelectric Power Plant implementation

Abstract

The Brazilian Federal District surrounding areas have been experiencing transformations arising from significant infrastructure public investments. In the southwestern portion of the Brazilian Federal District Integrated Development Region (RIDE-DF), the process is exemplified by the BR-060 highway and the Corumbá IV Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir implementation. As the result of a post-doctoral research, this paper aims at analyzing the correlation between two planning instruments - Environmental Plan for the Reservoir Surrounding Area Water Preservation and Usage and Urban Zoning - affecting the reservoir surrounding area with urban expansion processes within the municipalities of Santo Antonio do Descoberto, Alexânia, and Abadiânia. For that purpose, bibliographical and documental research, as well as maps, tables, and comparative charts production, and on-site visits, were developed. The results determine that the instruments play little to no role as territorial land regulation adjustments or effective parameters. In fact, they serve as a tool to legitimize the interests of local prevalent groups tied to the overvaluation of the urban expansion target land for second residence and tourism purposes within environmentally compromised areas in the municipalities. Added to the conflicts of an area controlled and subdued by different administrative spheres, these processes have led to relevant socioeconomic impacts