Mediated by the Judiciary of the State of Tocantins, since 2016, the High Level Management System of Water Resources in the Formoso River Basin was the winner in the Research and Technological Innovation category, in the seventh edition of the "Ana Award", promoted by the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency. The ceremony took place on Monday evening (22nd), the date when the International Day of Water is celebrated.
Winner in the category with the highest number of initiatives, 157 in total, the system, developed by professor Felipe de Azevedo Marques, through the Institute of Attention to Cities (IAC) of the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), aims to prevent a new water crisis from affecting the region. The project's partners also include the Secretary of the Environment and Water Resources (SEMARH), the Formoso River Watershed Committee, the Association of Rural Producers of Southwest Tocantins (APROEST), the Nature Institute of Tocantins (NATURATINS), the Formoso Irrigation District (DIF) and the State Prosecution of the State of Tocantins (MPE-TO).
According to Judge Wellington Magalhães, of the Judicial District of Cristalândia, "the judicialization of the water conflict in the Formoso river basin was a great opportunity that the Judiciary had to inaugurate, together with organized civil society, a broad debate about the problem of water scarcity in the region, especially through the various public hearings held in the search for a solution that honored the balance of interests involved in the protection and preservation of the environment. And the magistrate adds, "the High Level Management System, now not only a finalist, but also the winner of the ANA 2020 Award, only reinforces the need to continue advancing with a Judiciary focused on multi-professional dialogue in search of sustainable solutions to society's current problems, especially with regard to environmental conflicts", he said.
Created 14 years ago by the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency to recognize the best practices and initiatives focused on the care of Brazil's waters, the ANA Award is the most traditional water sector award in Brazil, and have already accounted 2,952 entries, with 40 contemplated projects from all Brazilian regions, which stood out for their contribution to the country's development. Get to know all the winners and finalists of the award in the Projects Bank.
