A federal judge in Bahia has ordered an energy company to install electrical meters in an indigenous village, where irregular leases for tourism are reportedly affecting the electricity supply.
In Bahia, Brazil, Judge Pablo Baldivieso of the Federal Court has ordered the utility company Coelba to install electricity meters in the Xandó village, an indigenous territory that has been irregularly leased to innkeepers for tourism purposes. The judge's decision, published last month, requires the company to provide information within 15 days on measures taken to install 1,500 electrical meters intended exclusively for indigenous residents. This move aims to rectify the unreliable electricity supply that has become a significant complaint among tourists during peak seasons.
The situation in the Xandó village is indicative of ongoing tensions between indigenous communities and encroaching tourism developments. A survey by the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai) in June 2022 revealed a mix of 404 non-indigenous individuals and 415 indigenous individuals living in the village. The number of inhabitants has likely increased in the past few years, leading to more pressing demands for essential services like electricity, particularly in light of the high tourist influx.
The judicial ruling highlights not only the need for equitable access to resources for indigenous peoples but also raises questions about the legality of ongoing land leases to non-indigenous businesses in these areas. The installation of energy meters is a crucial step in acknowledging and addressing the electrical needs of the local indigenous population, and it suggests a potential shift in how the rights and needs of indigenous communities are prioritized amidst growing tourism demands.
