The non-sustainability of regional development: Private profits, social impairment, depletion of the natural resources and degradation of the environmental carrying capacity

Taking as reference the influences on the social and environmental quality indicators in the Piracicaba Basin region, the present work points out the inadequacy of the development model proposed for the region, particularly concerning the large scale projects. The analysis of the announced projects for the region reveals the need of a new definition for regional development, considering the involvement of society concerning the regional planning, analysis of all regional intervention, and the life quality factors, from different time spans. These are some of the important aspects to be considered in the regional development planning, which have not been considered in the presented proposals.