Guarujá files lawsuit against Sabesp.
According to the city hall, several neighborhoods have been suffering from supply failures, increasing fears that the problem will persist throughout the season; the city's consumer protection agency (Procon) issued its first administrative fine to the concessionaire, amounting to R$ 210.
SÃO PAULO - The city hall of Guarujá (SP) filed a lawsuit last Tuesday (8) against Sabesp (SBSP3) due to the losses caused by the water shortage since the end of 2013, Valor reported. According to the city hall, several neighborhoods have been suffering from supply failures, increasing the fear that the problem will remain throughout the season.
Arguing that the Consumer Protection Code and the Federal Constitution guarantee the effective and continuous provision of public services, which includes water supply, the lawsuit filed by the city government is fighting on two fronts. First, for the normalization of the service provided by the concessionaire; and second, for compensation to the affected consumers, in addition to reimbursement for collective moral damages. The amount of compensation depends on an expert assessment to be determined by the court.
The day before, the city's consumer protection agency (Procon) issued its first administrative fine to the concessionaire, amounting to R$ 210.986,67. Contacted by Valor, Sabesp stated, through a press release, that it recognizes the right of the Guarujá City Hall to demand actions to improve sanitation in the city and reaffirmed its commitment to developing measures, in partnership with the municipality, to further improve the quality of services provided to the population of Guarujá.