Rio, August 11, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Luiz Paulo Conde, secretary of Environment and Urban Development and vice-governor of Rio, guaranteed that the first phase of the Guanabara Bay Depollution Program, which will benefit five million people through sanitation and sewage projects, will be concluded within two years. According to Conde, the completion of these projects will be possible, thanks to an extension of financial assistance from the Japanese International Cooperation Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Conde also informed that the government has already begun negotiations on the second phase of the depollution program. In the second phase, city garbage will receive special attention, through adequate treatment and final disposal. According to the secretary, the second phase will be concluded by 2006, making it possible for the Guanabara Bay depollution projects to be ready prior to the 2007 Pan-American Games. (DAS)