Changes to the Estrada Real Route in Mariana, Minas Gerais, After the Fundão Dam Collapse

This study examines the interplay between the Estrada Real Program and the districts of Camargos, Santa Rita Durão, and the former sub-district of Bento Rodrigues, in the context of the environmental disaster triggered by the collapse of the Fundão Dam on November 5, 2015. The research focuses on the controversial proposal by the Renova Foundation – the entity currently overseeing reparations for affected communities – to relocate the Estrada Real landmark from the original site of Bento Rodrigues ("old Bento") to the resettlement area ("new Bento"). This initiative raises critical concerns, as it risks symbolically erasing the accountability of the mining corporations involved (Vale S.A., BHP Billiton, and Samarco) for the ecological and socio-cultural damage caused. Adopting a descriptive and exploratory methodology, this work employs a case study approach to analyze the post-disaster conditions of the impacted districts. Findings indicate that the displacement of the Estrada Real landmark and the creation of "new Bento" fundamentally alter the socio-territorial dynamics, exacerbating the loss of cultural memory and community identity among survivors.