The Justice of Minas Gerais once again banned mining in Serra do Curral, located in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte.
In an appeal filed by the city of Minas Gerais, the TJ-MG (Court of Justice of Minas Gerais) overturned in an injunction on Friday (15) a decision of the first instance that suspended an ordinance of Iepha (State Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage of Minas Gerais).
The ordinance established a protection area in the region, preventing mining in Serra do Curral.
On April 30, the company Thames received the Copam (State Environmental Policy Council) license for the exploration of iron ore at the site. It was the company that filed a lawsuit in the first instance asking for the suspension of the Iepha decision.
The position of the TJ-MG, in addition to reactivating the ordinance, also determines that “the current decision must survive until the issue is reviewed by one of Organs fractional bodies of this court”.
With this, the court’s position can only be reviewed by collegiate determination, that is, by three or more judges from one of the Court’s classes. The injunction was given by José Arthur de Carvalho Pereira Filho, president of TJ-MG.
Thames said it will appeal the decision.
The day before the TJ-MG’s positioning, on Thursday (14), the 1st Public Treasury and Municipalities Court of the capital had authorized mining in Serra do Curral as part of another process, a popular action, filed by the former deputy mayor. of Belo Horizonte Paulo Lamac (Net).
Thames says that, so far, equipment and the structure that will be used in mining in Serra do Curral has not yet been installed.
The actions filed against the activity at the site point to environmental impacts, such as damage to vegetation and damage to air quality.
Serra do Curral is considered a postcard of Belo Horizonte, despite having most of it in Nova Lima, a municipality neighboring the capital.
