According to WWF: • Worldwide the total amount of water stored in dams is 3-6 times more than that contained in rivers. • The wetlands area during the 20th century has decreased by over 50%. • Out of the 10,000 recorded freshwater species more than 20% have either become extinct, threatened or endangered in recent times.
These facts are enough to justify the tremendous impact on environment dams are having. Large scale projects like dams are often floated as important and necessary means of economic development. But this development comes at some or the other cost. Cost to the environment, development and society. So what are dams really for? • Water supply for the general public for domestic uses as well as irrigation which is imperative for our agrarian Indian society. • Hydroelectric power generation. India is the 7th largest producer of hydroelectric power with 114 Tetra-watt hours. It produces 3.3% of the world total. • Dams impede the turbulent and sudden flow of water to prevent floods.
Well that is what they are for and granted many of them achieve the above given purposes but they are subject to widespread criticism and debate. Several vehement national and international movements have brought into light the severe problems associated with them. Dams have been criticized for disturbing natural water flows, affecting deposits of nutrients as well as lifecycles of species that depend on freshwater habitat. Reductions in water quantities can increase salinity and make the water unusable for drinking and irrigation. The transport of sediments that are crucial for natural cycles is also affected. This may cause flood risks, lower groundwater tables and in turn affect entire ecosystems. With that said we must point out that dams do not always have a negative impact on habitats. E.g. once reservoirs become established they can become sites where birds can thrive. There are cases where dam projects have taken up significant compensation for the environmental damage they had caused during their initial phases, but these cases are few and far between. In this report, we take up the issue of impact of dams from three different perspectives which we believe are best suited for such a topic: - Economics, Population and Risks and Hazards. We first present them individually and give a brief analysis of each perspective then we present a comprehensive and thorough conclusion at the end.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DAMS AND ECONOMY
2.1 Economic Benefits
2.2 Economic Dis-Advantages
2.3 Positive Externalities
2.4 Negative Externalities
3. IMPACTS OF DAMS ON HUMAN POPULATION
3.1 Reasons
3.1.1 Diseases
3.1.2 Incomplete Displacement
3.1.3 Resettlement
3.1.4 Disaster
4. RISK AND HAZARD PERSPECTIVE
4.1 Dam Failure
4.2 Historically Significant Dam Failures
4.3 Rivers at risk
4.4 Social Problems Created
4.5 Risk Perception from Dams
5. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Core Topics
The primary objective of this report is to analyze the environmental and socio-economic impacts of large-scale dam construction, evaluating whether these infrastructure projects serve as necessary tools for development or as sources of irreversible ecological and human damage.
- Economic viability and comparative benefits of hydroelectric power
- Human consequences, including forced displacement and resettlement
- Environmental risks and the impact on freshwater ecosystems
- Hazard analysis, including dam failures and risk perception
- Critique of policy-making and the assessment of large-scale infrastructure projects
Excerpt from the Book
IMPACTS OF DAMS ON HUMAN POPULATION
Though on a larger scale, Dams are economically a better alternative than any other power source (as discussed in previous part), but its effects on human populations are far more long – lasting, diverse and adverse. Also, it can be said that Dams Construction is considered as an environmental problem mainly because it affects indigenous population much more than it affects any other component of environment; unless or until a dam is constructed much far away from human settlement, it is not considered as an environmental issue, and through this part of our assignment, we will try to understand why and how is that so?
“We are stressing on the fact that if it was not for human population, we could have easily labelled Dam a boon (because of more benefits than loss), but due to the presence of human population near a dam, we are forced to consider the effects of Dams on them as well (which are significantly much more), and hence the problem persists”.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter outlines the global role of dams in water storage and power generation while introducing the critical debate regarding their environmental and social costs.
2. DAMS AND ECONOMY: This section evaluates the economic rationale for dam construction, weighing the benefits of cheap hydroelectric energy against maintenance costs and negative externalities like displacement and habitat loss.
3. IMPACTS OF DAMS ON HUMAN POPULATION: This chapter focuses on the adverse effects on communities, specifically discussing diseases, large-scale displacement, resettlement trauma, and the destruction of cultural heritage sites.
4. RISK AND HAZARD PERSPECTIVE: This section examines the technical and systemic risks associated with dams, including structural failure, the degradation of river ecosystems, and the psychological perception of risk among the public.
5. CONCLUSION: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing for improved regulatory standards and comprehensive assessments to ensure that future development prioritizes both social well-being and ecological sustainability.
Keywords
Dams, Hydroelectric Power, Environmental Impact, Human Displacement, Economic Benefits, Negative Externalities, Sustainable Development, Flood Protection, Dam Failure, Resettlement, Indigenous Communities, Infrastructure Assessment, Water Scarcity, Ecosystem Degradation, Risk Perception
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The report investigates the complex environmental, economic, and social impacts of large-scale dam projects, specifically focusing on whether the benefits of these structures outweigh the severe long-term consequences they impose.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The core themes include economic utility vs. maintenance costs, human displacement and community dissolution, ecological damage to river biomes, and the risks of structural failure.
What is the main research question?
The authors seek to understand the justification for dam construction by asking whom the development truly benefits and how society can mitigate the loss of culture, heritage, and livelihoods.
Which scientific approach is utilized in this paper?
The report employs a multi-perspective analytical framework, evaluating dam construction through three distinct lenses: economic viability, human population impact, and risk/hazard assessment.
What topics are covered in the body of the report?
The body addresses the trade-offs in power generation, the social trauma of forced migration, specific case studies like the Three Gorges Dam and Sardar Sarovar Dam, and the scientific understanding of infrastructure risks.
How would you categorize the keywords for this study?
The study is characterized by keywords relating to environmental management, socioeconomic development, hydroelectric energy, and indigenous rights.
How does the report view the economic efficiency of dams compared to other energy sources?
The authors acknowledge that while dams are often cheaper and more reliable long-term than nuclear or wind energy, they require massive initial capital and long lead times, and their true costs are often under-calculated.
What does the report conclude regarding future infrastructure policy?
The conclusion suggests that large-scale infrastructure should only proceed if it undergoes rigorous, transparent assessment and adheres to global standards to minimize ecological and human damage.
- Citar trabajo
- Rohit Daroch (Autor), Deepankar Arya (Autor), 2013, Environmental Impact of Dams, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/275580
