Development and Large Dams: A global perspective (original) (raw)
Related papers
Large dams : learning from the past, looking at the future. Workshop proceedings
IUCN eBooks, 1997
Learning from the Past, Looking at the Future large dams in terms of technical, economic, social 1.3 WORLD BANK PARTNERSHIP WITH and environmental implications for future financing IUCN-THE WORLD CONSERVATION by the World Bank Group, as well as other sources. UNION Using available data for projects completed One of the initiatives of the director-general of Usiweeng1960 and 1995, the dams were classifi.d IUCN, David McDowell, upon his appointment in between 1960 and 1995, the dams were classified 94wst eksrtei rnrh ihk according to their economic justification and whether 1994, was to seek strategic partnerships with key they satisfied the impact mitigation and management international agencies so that they might work the saife th imac miiainadmngmn together to resolve controversial issues and meet policies existing at the time of their approval, or could joi ntertests. Anaroeemen negotiatd with have been planned so as to satisfy policies that the joit mterests. An agreement negot1ated woth the Bank had introduced over the intervening years World Bank and signed in 1994 was one of the early (Liebenthal et al., 1996). OED concluded that while partnerships to be established. It was under this 90 percent of the dams reviewed met the standards agreement that the Bank approached IUCN in 1996 applicable at the time of approvals, only about one-with the idea that they might jointly host a workshop qapplicber atee timpemo aovas to ly abuth ne-to discuss the findings of the OED desk review World Bank's current, more demanding policies. The (Phase I) and their implications for the design, methodology and process of a proposed in-depth study (Phase II) on large dams to be undertaken in 1997-98. In agreeing to proceed, both organizations The impact of large dam projects recognized that this workshop would address one of the most controversial issues in the field of environ-Under old policies ment and development policy today and that a successful outcome was by no means assured. Unacceptable Special funding to support the workshop was provided by the World Bank through the Swiss Agency decided that one of the priorities in allocating the Unacceptable SDC/OED trust fund should be to seek a resolution to the conflicts surrounding large dams. 9% ^1.4 PREPARATIONS FOR THE WORKSHOP Robert Picciotto, director general of Operations Evaluation at the World Bank, and George Greene, Acceptable assistant director general of IUCN, were given overall Potentially Z 6t / responsibility for the workshop. Reporting to them, acceptable \ Achim Steiner, who was IUCN's liaison officer to the World Bank, and Andres Liebenthal, who had led OE PRECIS, SEPTEMBER 1996, WORLD BANK Acceptable OED's desk review, were asked to organize the workshop, focusing on five key preparatory tasks: agreereview also concluded that mitigation of the adverse ment on the specific objectives, development of backsocial and environmental consequences of large dams ground information, selection of participants, facilitawould have been both feasible and economically justi-tion of the sessions and design of the agenda. fied in 74 percent of the cases. The main conclusion Objectives of workshop was OED's conditional support for the construction of large dams, provided that they strictly comply with Four specific objectives were developed through Bank guidelines and fully incorporate the lessons of discussions among some of the key stakeholders experience. The analysis, conclusions and recommen-associated with IUCN and the World Bank: dations were summarized and made public in an Review the OED desk study of large dams in OED Precis (1996).
Impacts of Large Dams: Issues, Opportunities and Constraints
Impacts of Large Dams: A Global Assessment, 2012
From time immemorial, human beings have settled in the fertile plains of major rivers like the Nile in Africa, Euphrates-Tigris in Mesopotamia, and the Indo-Gangetic plain in the Indian subcontinent. In these areas, floods and droughts had to be managed to reduce losses to human and cattle populations and also to limit economic damage. During the past two centuries, hundreds of millions of people lived around rivers, which necessitated control of these rivers to provide assured water supply for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes and to reduce flood and drought damages. Thus, the building of dams has gained steady momentum. More recently, after the 1930s, water requirements increased exponentially in countries where there was signifi cant immigration, such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada and the United States, to satisfy the needs of their expanding populations. Globally, with the passage of time, water control and assured availability of water of appropriate quality became essential requirements for continuing economic and social development.
The current debate on dams has become dogmatic, sometimes emotional, and counterproductive. There is no single solution which could be valid for a heterogeneous world, in which there is a great variety of climatic, physical, social, economic and environmental conditions, as well as institutional, technical and management capacities. There are also differing institutional and legal frameworks for managing water, and levels of development and available technology. A systematic approach is needed, where the main objectives of water developments are first identified. Solutions should then be case-specific, and these could vary from one location to another, or even at the same location over time.
1997
Learning from the Past, Looking at the Future large dams in terms of technical, economic, social 1.3 WORLD BANK PARTNERSHIP WITH and environmental implications for future financing IUCN-THE WORLD CONSERVATION by the World Bank Group, as well as other sources. UNION Using available data for projects completed One of the initiatives of the director-general of Usiweeng1960 and 1995, the dams were classifi.d IUCN, David McDowell, upon his appointment in between 1960 and 1995, the dams were classified 94wst eksrtei rnrh ihk according to their economic justification and whether 1994, was to seek strategic partnerships with key they satisfied the impact mitigation and management international agencies so that they might work the saife th imac miiainadmngmn together to resolve controversial issues and meet policies existing at the time of their approval, or could joi ntertests. Anaroeemen negotiatd with have been planned so as to satisfy policies that the joit mterests. An agreement negot1ated woth the Bank had introduced over the intervening years World Bank and signed in 1994 was one of the early (Liebenthal et al., 1996). OED concluded that while partnerships to be established. It was under this 90 percent of the dams reviewed met the standards agreement that the Bank approached IUCN in 1996 applicable at the time of approvals, only about one-with the idea that they might jointly host a workshop qapplicber atee timpemo aovas to ly abuth ne-to discuss the findings of the OED desk review World Bank's current, more demanding policies. The (Phase I) and their implications for the design, methodology and process of a proposed in-depth study (Phase II) on large dams to be undertaken in 1997-98. In agreeing to proceed, both organizations The impact of large dam projects recognized that this workshop would address one of the most controversial issues in the field of environ-Under old policies ment and development policy today and that a successful outcome was by no means assured. Unacceptable Special funding to support the workshop was provided by the World Bank through the Swiss Agency decided that one of the priorities in allocating the Unacceptable SDC/OED trust fund should be to seek a resolution to the conflicts surrounding large dams. 9% ^1.4 PREPARATIONS FOR THE WORKSHOP Robert Picciotto, director general of Operations Evaluation at the World Bank, and George Greene, Acceptable assistant director general of IUCN, were given overall Potentially Z 6t / responsibility for the workshop. Reporting to them, acceptable \ Achim Steiner, who was IUCN's liaison officer to the World Bank, and Andres Liebenthal, who had led OE PRECIS, SEPTEMBER 1996, WORLD BANK Acceptable OED's desk review, were asked to organize the workshop, focusing on five key preparatory tasks: agreereview also concluded that mitigation of the adverse ment on the specific objectives, development of backsocial and environmental consequences of large dams ground information, selection of participants, facilitawould have been both feasible and economically justi-tion of the sessions and design of the agenda. fied in 74 percent of the cases. The main conclusion Objectives of workshop was OED's conditional support for the construction of large dams, provided that they strictly comply with Four specific objectives were developed through Bank guidelines and fully incorporate the lessons of discussions among some of the key stakeholders experience. The analysis, conclusions and recommen-associated with IUCN and the World Bank: dations were summarized and made public in an Review the OED desk study of large dams in OED Precis (1996).
DAMS AND DIKES IN DEVELOPMENT: Symposium at the occasion of the World Water Day, 22 March 2001
2001
Introduction Ir. Hans van Duivendijk: Dams and dikes - benefits, costs and option assessment Prof Kaare Hoege: Dikes, dams and water management Prof dr. Bart Schultz: Living with dams Prof dr. H.L.F. Saeijs and KirstenD. Schuijt: Safe dams and dikes, how safe? Prof ir. J.K. Vrijling: Dams and development The report of the World Commission on Dams Mr. Jamie Skinner:ICOLD's criteria applied to the southem delta area Ir. Leo Santbergen, Jan WillemSlager and drs. Kees Storm: Role of the consultants Drs. A. Leusink: Contractors, their changing role Ir. JJ. Enneking: List of contributors Committees
Chapter-IV POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF BIG DAMS A DEBATE
Rivers have been source of livelihood from ancient times. The alluvial soil brought by them has made their banks and adjoining plains so fertile that our country would never run short of food and fodder. Atmost all the ancient civilizations grew on the banks of life sustaining rivers. Rivers have been a valued part of earth's landscapes ~or a long lime. Man selected banks of river for living because these were a source of fresh water and it is almost right to say that life cannot exist without water. These have been the agents of transportation in both the hydrologic and the geologic cycles. The present day values of river include the use of their water for agriculture, industry, recreation and domestic supply.
Dam and its Failure: A Brief Review of some selected Dams around the World
This paper critically covers all the aspects of some selected dam failures around the world. The aim of the study is to examine the failures while the objectives are to; investigate the causes of the failures and to give possible recommendations. The materials used are journal articles. The methods involved are Google search with a view of extracting some relevant information on some selected dam failures. The result shows that factors responsible for the failure are due to geological, engineering and human factors. The geological factors are due to; heavy rains, flooding, earthquake, mud and water inundation, overtopping, thunderstorm, landfall, seismic activity, and torrential rainfall. The engineering factors are due to poor foundation, technical breakdown and foundation failure while the human factors are due to poor maintenance. These factors can cause immense damage to loss of life and property when they occur. Prior to the construction of dam, the services of geotechnical engineer and geologist should be sought in other to ensure its safety by carrying out detailed geotechnical and geological site investigations in other to know the surface and subsurface condition of the construction site. It is recommended that adequate geological, geophysical, geotechnical, geographic information technology, use of standard construction material, and regular monitoring should be carried out before and after dam construction.