Barragens de Portugal : de Vilarinho da Furna à Aldeia da Luz, com passagem pelo Douro Internacional
Miniatura indisponível
Ficheiros
Data
2006
Título da revista
ISSN da revista
Título do Volume
Editora
Edições Universitárias Lusófonas
Resumo
O grande impulso para o sector eléctrico em Portugal surgiu nos anos de 1940, com a definição das linhas mestras da electrificação do país. Foi neste âmbito que, a partir da década de 1950, se realizou a construção de grandes empreendimentos hidro e termo eléctricos, nomeadamente em Vilarinho da Furna, Picote, Miranda do Douro, Bemposta e, finalmente, em Alqueva, com a submersão da aldeia da Luz. Vilarinho da Furna era uma das últimas e mais típicas aldeias comunitárias da Europa. Até que a construção de uma barragem pôs termo à sua existência, no princípio dos anos setenta. Mas parte do seu património, constituído pelas componentes histórico-cultural e socio-económica, conseguiu sobreviver. É esse património que os seus antigos habitantes, apesar de dispersos pelas partidas do mundo, se propõem salvaguardar e valorizar. Ao contrário do que aconteceu em Vilarinho, em substituição da velha aldeia da Luz, submersa pela Barragem de Alqueva, foi construída uma nova povoação. Mas a readaptação ao novo espaço envolvente, bem como a manutenção ou perda de uma identidade colectiva dos habitantes da Luz, reveste-se de grande impacto, na medida em que se tratou de uma imposição do Estado. Por sua vez, o caso do Douro Internacional é uma situação sui generis. Até certo ponto é a antítese de Vilarinho da Furna e da aldeia da Luz. A construção das barragens de Picote, Miranda do Douro e Bemposta não implicou a submersão de nenhuma aldeia. Por isso não envolveu a sua relocalização e também não teve impactos directos sobre as comunidades. Como apoio à construção destas barragens, foi edificado um conjunto de equipamentos colectivos. Actualmente, parte deste património está votado ao abandono. Nos bairros dos operários, as casas ou foram recentemente vendidas a forasteiros ou estão ocupadas por antigos funcionários, agora reformados. Da análise dos casos referidos, parece que o desenvolvimento baseado na construção de barragens, nos últimos cinquenta anos, é uma miragem para as populações afectadas.
The great impulse for the electric power supply in Portugal started in the 1940 decade, after the definition of the master plan for the electrification of the country. Following that, large hydroelectric plants were constructed, namely in Vilarinho da Furna, Picote, Miranda do Douro, Bemposta, and lately in Alqueva. This one determined the submersion of nearby Luz village. Vilarinho da Furna was one of the last and more typical communitarian villages in Europe. However, the construction of a dam ended its existence, in the early seventies. The significant part of his patrimony, mainly cultural, historical and socio-economical could survive. It is this heritage that the former Vilarinho’s inhabitants, although living nowadays in many different places, are trying to preserve and valorising. The village of Luz, submerged by the Alqueva dam, was replaced by a new village constructed in neighboured. This model was not adopted in Vilarinho da Furna, some 30 years before. However readapting to new surroundings, together with the losing of the collective identity of Luz inhabitants, had a huge impact because it is the consequence of a compulsive measure determined by the Government. 14 The case of Douro International is sui generis. In a certain way it is the antithesis of Vilarinho da Furna and Luz. The construction of dams along the river (Picote, Miranda do Douro and Bemposta) did not determine any village submersion. No people relocation occurred and the direct consequences affecting its inhabitants were negligible. During the works, to support the dams’ construction, houses and other equipments were built. Nowadays, part of this patrimony is abandoned: some houses were sold to people from other places, while o-thers still belong to the old workers, now retired. The analysis of these cases leaded to the conclusion that during the last fifty years the development based on large dams and power plants construction was a mirage for the involved populations.
The great impulse for the electric power supply in Portugal started in the 1940 decade, after the definition of the master plan for the electrification of the country. Following that, large hydroelectric plants were constructed, namely in Vilarinho da Furna, Picote, Miranda do Douro, Bemposta, and lately in Alqueva. This one determined the submersion of nearby Luz village. Vilarinho da Furna was one of the last and more typical communitarian villages in Europe. However, the construction of a dam ended its existence, in the early seventies. The significant part of his patrimony, mainly cultural, historical and socio-economical could survive. It is this heritage that the former Vilarinho’s inhabitants, although living nowadays in many different places, are trying to preserve and valorising. The village of Luz, submerged by the Alqueva dam, was replaced by a new village constructed in neighboured. This model was not adopted in Vilarinho da Furna, some 30 years before. However readapting to new surroundings, together with the losing of the collective identity of Luz inhabitants, had a huge impact because it is the consequence of a compulsive measure determined by the Government. 14 The case of Douro International is sui generis. In a certain way it is the antithesis of Vilarinho da Furna and Luz. The construction of dams along the river (Picote, Miranda do Douro and Bemposta) did not determine any village submersion. No people relocation occurred and the direct consequences affecting its inhabitants were negligible. During the works, to support the dams’ construction, houses and other equipments were built. Nowadays, part of this patrimony is abandoned: some houses were sold to people from other places, while o-thers still belong to the old workers, now retired. The analysis of these cases leaded to the conclusion that during the last fifty years the development based on large dams and power plants construction was a mirage for the involved populations.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
BARRAGENS, EDUCAÇÃO, DAMS, EDUCATION
Citação
Antunes, M D A, Duarte, L C & Reino, J P 2006, 'Barragens de Portugal : de Vilarinho da Furna à Aldeia da Luz, com passagem pelo Douro Internacional', Revista Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, vol. 10, no. 10, pp. 13-21.