Accepted Papers - 3.pdf - UNESCO

difficulties in investigations, R&R problems, delay
in land acquisition, funds constraints and geological
surprises. Policy on Hydropower Development may
help in boosting the pace of hydro development in
country.
ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF WATER
STORAGE PROJECTS – BRIEF RESUME
There are numerous incidental benefits from
the construction of large and high dams such as
improving environment, health, afforestation,
fisheries development, tourism and recreational
facilities, employment generation, development of
agro-based industries, network of roads in catchment
& command areas, development of land and
improving general socio-economic standards.
Numerous case studies prove that significant
improvement occurs in food and nutritional level with
higher per capita food availability and diversification
of crop production, especially cash crops after
introduction of irrigation. New employment
opportunities generated by the intensification of
agricultural and associated economic activities
further improve financial conditions of people
including landless labourers. As a multiplier effect,
large river valley projects tremendously improve the
health of rural population by significantly enhancing
the education, health care, transportation facilities
and the life styles particularly of women like Western
U.P. and Punjab.
Water resource development requires a
judicious mix of large, medium or small reservoirs,
which are location specific. Loss of forest area due
to submergence is less than five per cent of the total
forest area lost in the country in the last five decades.
The loss of biomass through submergence is, far
smaller than the biomass generated on account of
the irrigation. A forest far superior to the original,
sans the original bio-diversity, comes up after the
creation of the reservoir. Adverse effects like water
logging and salinity are being prevented through
conjunctive use of groundwater, prevention of canal
water leakage, reduction of seepage losses from
water carrying bodies, implementation of adequate
drainage and adoption of efficient irrigation methods.
Reservoirs may create new conditions for
growth of organisms, and ultimately, adjustments are
made to, foster new eco-systems. Varieties of new
organisms thrive on this new eco-lake system.
Additional water made available for dry period of
the year, when the environment tends to be harsh
and makes the area inhospitable, supports the growth
492
of life around. Such projects provide a dependable
source of drinking water. People from the irrigated
areas enjoy better health and sanitation facilities, thus
reducing the incidences of diseases. A very availability
of water leads to improvement in the level of
sanitation. The improved economic status also
makes people health conscious and capable of
availing of requisite health care. As per the UNICEF
(1988) report, new water supply facilities sourced
from large dams improved the sanitary conditions,
which led to significant improvement in general
health conditions. Vectoral risks can be reduced by
removing sources of stagnant or slow-moving water
and by ensuring continual maintenance of drains and
canals.
Substantial increase in numbers of tigers,
panthers, elephants, cheetals and crocodiles have
been observed in the famous Jim Corbett National
Park with the availability of green fodder and clean
water throughout the year improved climatic
conditions and reduced risk of poaching on account
of reservoir area on most of the sides of after
construction of the Ramganga Multipurpose Dam
Project. Rare species of birds flock there after the
reservoir construction. Similar phenomenon of an
increase in birds and wildlife has also been observed
around Rihand and Matatila reservoirs, which were
previously barren lands. Best tourist places area
Ukai tourist resort, Periyar wild life sanctuary,
Shalimar garden, Vrindavan garden, Pinjore garden,
Kalindi-Kunj, Matatila Garden, Dhyaneshwar Udyan
and Ramganga Udhyan, which are all bye products
of river valley projects.
REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT
Controversies concerning the rehabilitation of
persons displaced by dams have muddied the entire
debate on the utility of water resources projects and
caused much harm to the national economy. As per
assessment by Central Water Commission (CWC)
through the review of data of 2784 dams, total
project affected persons (PAPS) range between 6
to 7 millions. Opponents of large dams blow up this
figure up to 70 million by taking the average of the
recent few mega dams and multiplying the same by
4291 (total number of dams over 15m height). It
has to be borne in mind that most of the high dams
(by definition every dam having height of more than
15m is classified as high dam by ICOLD mainly for
safety concerns) did not displace persons, firstly due
to very thin population in their submergence in earlier
dams during construction, secondly very few dams