The administration led by Governor Romeu Zema of Minas Gerais has come under scrutiny for expending less than 5% of its projected annual budget for landslide containment measures from 2021 to 2024. Recent reports reveal that the allocated budget of R$ 57 million for 2025 only saw R$ 150,000 utilized within the first four months. These figures are derived from the state’s Budgetary Law and tracking reports of the Pluriannual Plan, which outlines short- to medium-term public administration priorities.

All twelve proposed landslide containment projects are set to take place across 18 municipalities in Minas Gerais. However, none of these projects are new; they were approved over a decade ago under the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) in 2012, and progress has been disappointingly slow since their inception. The federal government has offered complete funding for these projects, meaning the financial resources will not need to be repaid, yet various administrative issues have contributed to significant delays in execution.

The situation underscores broader concerns regarding infrastructure spending and emergency preparedness in the region, particularly as Minas Gerais faces recurring environmental challenges. The inability to effectively implement planned projects raises questions about the state government’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructure needs and providing adequate protections against landslides, which are a significant risk in many areas of the state.