Ressignificação do campo: A ocupação das margens da usina hidroelétrica

Abstract

In 2002, the damming of a section of the Rio Grande resulted in the creation of the Funil Hydroelectric Plant, which affected urban and rural areas in the municipalities of Lavras, Ijaci, Perdões and Ribeirão Vermelho (among others) located in the south of Minas Gerais. The event changed not only the region's landscape, but also its economic and social structures. The rural landscape, characterized by plantations, pastures, farms and rural facilities, was mostly submerged. Subsequently, even what remained of this landscape in elevated areas diminished and gave way to a new type of occupation: country houses or residences for occasional use. The changes occurred in the last two decades and were experienced by the author. Based on this scenario, the present research aimed to evaluate the phenomenon of non-primary occupation in rural areas and understand the urban-rural dynamics in this context, within the presented section (bank area located within the administrative limit of Perdões – MG). The methodology was divided into three approach aspects: “Space, Support and Materiality”, “Legislation” and “Composition”. These aspects sought to produce evidence on the phenomenon of non-primary occupation through geoprocessing, field research, documentary research and legislation analysis. As a result, it was possible to understand that there was a rupture between the region's past and present, in which country houses constitute an overlapping layer. Furthermore, it was exposed that current legislation leaves room for conflicting interpretations, especially in relation to land division. It was also possible to notice that rural and urban areas in the region are diffuse, but can be identified in a specific and fragmented way.