Amazon peoples still suffer Lula's megadam as ex-president runs for new mandate

Amazon peoples still suffer Lula's megadam as ex-president runs for new mandate

A controversial dam project in northern Brazil promised progress.

Instead, it brought water disputes, environmental disruption, and damaged the livelihoods of the indigenous riverine population.

Former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pushed ahead with the project, despite the region's exuberant beauty, endemic fauna and flora and clashes with indigenous communities.

The hydroelectric plant was eventually inaugurated in 2016.

Now, Lula is running for a third term in office, and locals say they're still suffering the effects of the dam, which retains too much water for the upkeep of the region’s biodiversity.