Mineração, desenvolvimento local e políticas públicas: um estudo em Luminárias - MG

Abstract

This work sought to identify the favorable and limiting factors for the local development of Luminárias arising out of mining activities and how these factors can contribute to public policies formulation. The methodological procedures are based on qualitative research. Fieldwork was carried out by means of in loco observation in one of the city's quarries and sixteen semi-structured interviews with representatives of the municipal executive and legislative powers, associations and cooperatives, workers of mining companies, mining entrepreneurs and also residents from around the quarries. Through content analysis, data were systematized in the following categories: mining history of the city and its importance nowadays; mining and the economic; social; environmental, political and cultural impacts; oversight and cooperatives. The results obtained confirmed the importance of the activity for the municipality from an economic, social and cultural point of view and showed, on the other hand, the existence of political, social and environmental limiting factors. It was evidenced that the number of companies that carry out only the stages of processing and commercialization of ornamental stones has grown in Luminárias, while the extraction activity finds more and more difficulties in its operation. Among the pointed out difficulties, the operational complexity in the extractions process, the lack of a available workforce and the necessary bureaucratic-legal part for the operation. It was determined that it is important to promote economic diversification in the municipality and that, through public policies, conditions are created to endow mining with a more sustainable character through the regularization of companies and the labor market and measures that reduce the environmental impact.