Brazil court halts building of dam

Brazils Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira said on Friday that authorities havent yet been notified about the ruling to suspend works in a controversial 17-billion-dollar Amazon dam that has recently won government licenses.Earlier this week, a federal judge from the northern state of Para demanded Norte Energia, the consortium in charge of building Belo Monte dam, to immediately halt all works affecting the flow of the Xingu river, an Amazon river tributary.Judge Carlos Castro Martins issued the injunction on Tuesday in favour of a fishermens association from the city of Altamira, which said their activities were endangered by the massive hydroelectric plant.The group argued that fish stocks would be hurt, thereby, harming around 1,000 families who make a living from fishing.The injunction forbid the building of ports, dikes, canals, the use of explosives and any other works that could interfere in the rivers natural flow and threaten local fauna. A fine of 200,000 reais per day will be imposed for non-compliance with the order.Preparation of construction sites and building of houses were allowed to continue because Martins considered that they didnt interfere in the rivers navigability and fishing activities.In a news conference in Rio, Teixeira said the dam sparked controversy, but ensured that officials were keeping a close eye on it.In June, Brazils environment agency Ibama gave its definitive approval for the 11,200 megawatt project, which has been criticized by native Indians who would be displaced by the dam and conservationists worried about its effect on the Amazon environment.The 6-km-long (3.75-mile) dam will displace 30,000 river dwellers, partially dry up a 100-km (62-mile) stretch of the Xingu river, and flood large areas of forest and grass land.The government insists that Belo Monte, due to start producing electricity in 2015, is crucial to provide power to Brazils fast-growing economy. It will be the worlds third-biggest hydroelectric dam after Chinas Three Gorges and Itaipu on the border of Brazil and Paraguay.