New Secretary of Water Resources of the MMA presents challenges for 2010

Work in partnership with other departments of the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), taking into account the importance of the theme "water resources" and its relation to environmental problems, is a priority to Silvano Silvério, who is officially the head of the Secretariat of Water Resources and Urban Environment (SRHU) since February 5.

On Friday (February 12), Silvério presented the challenges of the Secretariat formed by the departments of Water Resources, Urban Environment and for Revitalization of Hydrographic Basins. The new secretary said that the previous administration of SRHU has left an important legacy for the country with regard to the National Environmental Policy and that this work will continue.

In 2010, one of the major responsibilities of the Secretariat will be the revision of the National Plan for Water Resources (PNRH). One of the goals is to include the issue of climate change in the proposed revision.

The PNRH sets guidelines for the rational use of water and guides public policies that have interaction with the management of water resources. In addition, the Secretariat will organize a pre-conference on water, refereed by the National Council for Water Resources (CNRH) and that should gather, in Brasilia, about 600 people. The event will be preparatory for the National Water Conference, scheduled to occur in up to two years.

With regard to the Department of Urban Environment, the new secretary highlighted the imminent endorsement of the law establishing the National Policy on Solid Waste (PNRS). And the Department for Revitalization of Hydrographic Basins, according to the new secretary, should improve the coordination of actions related to the Program for Revitalization of the Hydrographic Basin of the São Francisco and Parnaíba Rivers. Silverio also mentioned the need to enhance the Freshwater Program in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil, which has resources for 2010 and is very important from the standpoint of environmental sustainability.