A São Paulo court has ordered the suspension of approximately R$ 42.4 million from Ubatuba's Municipal Environment Fund due to alleged irregularities in the approval process for funded projects.
On Thursday, the 5th, a São Paulo court mandated that Ubatuba's city government halt the use of around R$ 42.4 million from the Municipal Environment Fund (FMMA). This fund includes revenues collected from the Environmental Preservation Fee (TPA). The judicial decision responds to a civil action initiated by the São Paulo Public Ministry (MP-SP), which highlighted concerns regarding the potential mismanagement and misallocation of these funds intended for environmental purposes.
The ruling, issued by Judge Samara Fernandes Cardoso Lima of the 2nd Court of Ubatuba, prohibits the municipality from expending the allocated amounts for projects previously approved in an extraordinary meeting of the Municipal Environment Council that took place on February 12, 2025. The judge's order emphasizes the need for adherence to proper legal procedures in the approval of projects funded by public resources meant for environmental preservation.
Among the projects identified in the Public Ministry's action are investments in technological infrastructure, which have raised eyebrows regarding their alignment with the environmental objectives of the fund. The intervention by the judiciary reflects an ongoing scrutiny into how municipal funds are managed and allocated, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in environmental governance.
