Disputa pela água nos hidroterritórios do Platô de Neópolis - SE

Abstract

The discussion on water resources is becoming an increasingly relevant andnecessary topic because it involves one of the main gears for thedevelopment of the capitalist mode of production: water. Due to this, water can be a source of conflicts, generated both by the way of accessing it andbyreason of its management. As a result of these conflicts, disputes over water stocks, hydroterritories arise, whose key element for the analysis is thewater resource and the ways of accessing it. Thus, this research sought, fromthepoint of view of geographic science, to analyze the socio-spatial contradictions arising from the unequal appropriation of water resources inthePlateau of Neópolis - SE, with the purpose of identifying the existinghydroterritories in it. To achieve the proposed objectives, the researchwasbased on a quantitative/qualitative analysis, through a bibliographical anddocumental approach. As a criterion to identify and delimit the hydroterritories, the methodology developed by TORRES (2007) was applied, which classifiesthem as: private, fighting, and free. From this analysis, there was ahighconcentration of land in the Neópolis Plateau in the hands of three companies, and several conflicts over the use of water in the municipalities of Pacatubaand Neópolis. In addition, three hydroterritories were identified: the sugarcanehydroterritory, the green coconut hydroterritory and the mango hydroterritory. The hydroterritories of the Plateau of Neópolis were classified as private, asthe water is used by companies, which end up becoming the agents that shape the socio-environmental conditions of the area.