Water resources governance: A study of the stakeholder perceptions in the state of Minas Gerais

Abstract

The world is preoccupied with the water quality, distribution and scarcity. The aim of this paper is to present the stakeholders perceptions and regulation involved in Water Management on the public governance mechanisms. The theoretical development of this work contemplated the public governance theory, specifically where it refers to the stakeholders participation in the Water Management. The research was performed as case studies on the state organization IGAM (Water Management Institute of Minas Gerais - Brazil) taking in consideration the public governance mechanisms defined by the Organization for Cooperation and Economical Development - OCDE (2005). By means of the use of a specialist panel and a focal group undertaken with representatives of stakeholders involved in the Water Management it was possible to evidence the necessities for adjustment of the legislation concerning the supplying of semi-arid areas and the integration of the hydrographical basins' public policies. The conflicts appear more clearly in the interaction between some stakeholders. Those are discourses that question the utilitarian acting of the water, the technical ignorance of the members of Hydrographical Basin Committees and the defense of the democratic format of these decision organs.