By Richard Mann
Rio de Janeiro – A study says that over the past six years, the government of Rio de Janeiro has neglected to spend approximately R$3 billion (US$750 million) of its budget on programs for flood control, protection of slopes, sanitation expansion, drainage of rivers and pavement works. Current city administration disputes these figures.
The study, submitted on Thursday, 9th, to the City Council, was conducted by the Coordination of Audit and Development of the Court of Auditors of the Municipality (TCM) which compared the estimated budget for such programs with the effective figures used between 2013 and 2018.
According to the president of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on Floods (CPI) and City Council Tarcísio Mota (PSOL), this saving may have contributed to the ten fatalities during the April rains.
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In response to Brazilian media outlet G1, City Hall did not explain the cause for the budget change but instead provided different figures on expenses incurred by the Conservation, Infrastructure and Housing Secretariats, which make up the Flood Prevention Work Program.
In addition to the cuts, the actual budget for these programs was also reduced during the current administration.
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