INTRODUCTION:
Development or Economic Development is a
term that economists, politicians, and others have used frequently in the 20th
century. The concept, however, has been in existence in the West for centuries.
Modernization, Westernization, and especially Industrialization are other terms
people have used when discussing economic development. The success of
development programs cannot be judged merely in terms of their effects on
incomes and outputs, and must, at a basic level, focus on the lives that people
can lead.
This would mean real benefits like lower
morbidity and mortality, an increasing level of education, increasing incomes
through opportunities for employment and livelihood and empowering the affected
and displaced people through building capacities by their participation in the
entire decision-making process of the development project and resettlement
(World Bank Report, 1997).1
Over the past decade or so, hydropower projects in
tribal areas have attracted much attention concerning the environmental and
social impacts that have arisen from such developments. Construction and
operation of dams have always been associated with changes in the physical and
biological environment. Adverse effects have more often than not, out-numbered
the positive effect. Some of the negative impacts of hydropower include loss of
vegetation, changes in river flow patterns and regimes, involuntary
resettlement, health problems, loss of cultural values, marginalization of
local people. Most hydropower projects in the past have been given much
attention regarding the technical design and economic issues of the project
rather than their social and environmental impacts. However, today, the
hydropower industry is in quest for improved project performance.
As the country continues to walk on the road of growth
and development, dependable and reliable energy sources become a requirement.
India is gifted with economically exploitable and viable hydro potential
assessed to be about 84,000 MW at 60% load factor (1,48,701 MW installed
capacity). In addition, 6780 MW in terms of installed capacity from small, mini
and micro hydel schemes have been assessed. Himachal Pradesh has the privilege
of snow fed perennial rivers and rivulets flowing in almost all parts of the
state. The Satluj, Beas, Ravi and Chenab in the west, flow through various
parts of the state and Yamuna with its important tributaries of Tons, Pabbar
and Giri flow in the east. Himachal Pradesh now has been viewed as the ‘power
state’ with hydro power potential to the tune of approximately 27,436 MW. The
pressure is not just to make power, but make ‘clean’ power, using the
run-of-river technology, propagated as less damaging, socially and
environmentally2. On the ground local protests in several area
across Himachal Pradesh has indicated that these projects, involving diversion
of rivers and streams, are damaging local livelihoods, and leading to the
destruction of forests in different ways, even if direct displacement is
minimal. While the large and medium Hydro Power projects have been in the line
of fire for their environmental impacts, the small hydro-electric projects
(SHEPs) of less than 5 MW capacities seem to have escaped the lens. Small
Hydropower Projects also caused some environmental problems such as downstream
drought by the dams, decline of vegetation and soil and water loss. It has been
reported that dams of these Hydropower Projects impede the flux of water, sediments,
biota and nutrients and can strongly alter the structure and dynamics of
upstream and downstream aquatic and riparian habitats and biota3. In
1970s while Narmada Water dispute before the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal,
Gujarat demanded that it also need water for the river downstream from the
proposed dam site, besides for other purposes. It argued that water for the
river is required for sustaining navigation, for the water needs of people
staying on the banks of the river, for arresting salinity ingress and for
fisheries4.
Two main types of hydroelectric projects are:
1) Reservoir Hydro Power Projects:
Most commonly, hydropower dams partially block the
water flow of a river to create a reservoir with the capacity to store water.
Larger reservoirs can buffer greater fluctuations and flow over a longer time
period to provide both base and peak power generation, while smaller reservoirs
typically provide only base power generation because of the impacts of variable
discharge rates. Reservoir dams are found worldwide distributed in different
countries.
2) Run-of-river Hydro Projects:
Run-of-river dams utilize some or all of a
river’s flow to produce electricity without impounding any significant amount
of water to upstream. As a result, run-of-river facilities have no storage
capacity to buffer fluctuations in water flow. These facilities provide only
base power generation hence lacks the ability to store water for periods of
peak demand. Run-of-river hydropower is found most commonly in North America
Europe and Asia. Run-of-river systems do not rely on a reservoir. Generation
capacity can vary significantly depending on seasonal river flows.
Literature Reviewed:
Construction and operation of dams have
always been associated with changes in the physical and natural environment.
The problem of displacement is being discussed in various forms. Large areas of
land are acquired for the sake of development, where is always occurred the
problems of displacement, resettlement, rehabilitation and compensation etc.
But the focus of the present study is displacement and its impacts on the
affected people due to hydro power projects in Himachal Pradesh. Here are some
of the studies attempted on displacement and its negative and positive
consequences.
The problem of displacement are being discussed in
various forms: land acquisition results in displacement of agriculturists, poor
people and tribal who had been residing in the fringe to acquire more and more
land for residential colonies, large industries, roads and infra-structure
facilities. Large areas of land are acquired for the sake of development, where
is always occurred the problems of payment of compensation, resettlement and
rehabilitation(Advani, 2009).5In his study about the negative
impacts of hydro power projects on the indigenous water mills, which have been
the barrier of Hatt and Gharat Culture of hills, meaning thereby the
watermills are the focal point of meeting the villagers and discuss the problem
of all sorts and find the solutions thereof by seating in the watermills, after
the installation of power projects the watermills have been closed because of
the reservoirs of dams i.e. Chamera-I and Chamera-II. (Slariya, 2009).6
From the review of literature, it is observed that the
impact of displacement and rehabilitation of affected families by hydro power
project has been a subject of considerable interest among researchers. The
construction of a dam and power plant, along with the impounding of a
reservoir, creates certain social and physical changes. Difficult ethical
issues, such as ensuring the rights of nation to develop, and ensuring that the
rights of people and communities affected by a project are respected, are also
likely to arise.
It is also manifest from the studies that hydro
projects can have both positive and negative social aspects. Social costs are
mainly associated with transformation of land use in the project area, and
displacement of people living in the reservoir area. Relocating people from the
reservoir area is undoubtedly, the most challenging social aspect of hydro
power projects.
The Study:
The Mountain River hydropower projects which are
extensively distributed in Western Himalayas, especially in tribal and hilly
areas of Himachal Pradesh. Kinnaur district is also located in eastern part of
Himachal Pradesh and having three highest mountain ranges i.e. Zanskar, Greater
Himalayas and Dhauladhar, enclosing Valleys of Sutlej, Spiti, Baspa, Wangerand
their tributaries. The district lies between 31° 06’ & 32° 06’ north latitudes
and 77° 45’& 79° 00’ east longitudes. The district has a total geographical
area of 6,401 sq km which covers about 11.5 % area of the State. The district
is bounded by Lahaul&Spiti district in the north, Kullu district in the
northwest, Shimla district in the southwest, Uttarakhand State in the south and
international border with China (Tibet) in the east4.The present
study also found that Hydroelectric Projects played both positive and negative
role in Kinnaur. The hydro projects has provided a lot of economic
opportunities to the local population, led to the development of roads,
construction of schools, hospitals, parks and other basic facilities in the
region. During the study it was also found that project had many negative
consequences like loss of human lives with the construction of dams, loss of
underground water, social disintegration, migration, ecological disturbances
and agitation etc.
METHODOLOGY:
The present study explored how the
Hydroelectric Projects have been functional and dysfunctional for the local
community in this tribal region. We used qualitative social research methods,
including interviews. Initially at each research site, we selected 8-10 key
informants among the members of the gram sabha (village level council), Non
Government Organizations and interviewed them to provide general background
about the sites. 10 individual interviews were conducted in each hydropower
project in different sites of Kinnaur district. Field research and interviews
were conducted with key persons of affected area during our field visit in
Kinnaur district from October to December 2015 including Baspa and Hangrang
Valleys. We used snowball sampling to select and interview villagers who could
supply information on impacts of hydro power projects. Likewise150 male
respondents and 150 female respondents got selected for the samplefom Jangi
Thopan and Karchham Wangtu Hydro Power Projects.
The major aim of this research paper is to
study the level of awareness among the displaced people about the relief and
rehabilitation programmes being provided by the Governments and NGOs. Here is
the description of some of the programmes and schemes launched for the
promotion of education, health and living standard among these displaced
people.
Predesigned structured interview schedule was prepared
to collect the required information from the respondents. On the spot
observation and discussion were also conducted as and when required.
The collected data was checked, verified
and coded accordingly. Thereafter using appropriate statistical techniques,
data was presented in tabular form for further analysis and discussion.
Findings:
Since the independence, India has developed thousands
of projects across the country and millions of people have been displaced due
to such development projects. In India, there is not any adequate relief and
rehabilitation policy for the affected people. In the context of hydropower projects,
hilly areas are highly affected and Himachal Pradesh is the most targeted state
to generate hydroelectricity. Thousands of people have been displaced in past,
especially in Kangra, Bilaspur, Una, Chamba and Kinnaur districts of Himachal
Pradesh due to construction of hydropower projects. The main aim of this paper
was to know about the awareness among the respondents regarding the relief and
rehabilitation plan.
Pie Charts showing distribution (percentage) of
respondents regarding knowledge about various Relief and Rehabilitation
Schemes.
The analysis depicts that more than two fifth (43
percent) respondents revealed that they were aware of the relief and
rehabilitation plan, whereas 57 percent showed ignorance in this regard. Out of
those who expressed awareness, it was further explored about the source of
awareness namely the NGOs, the officials of the Government and other private
individuals like the project developers. In this regard it was found that about
one half (46.51 percent) were provided awareness about the relief and rehabilitation
programs by the project developers where as the remaining one-sixth (16.27
percent) were informed by the non-governmental organizations. Awareness was
also provided by the officials of the Government to about 37.20 percent
respondent (Refer to Table 1).
During the survey the researcher observed that all the
local people were not satisfied by the construction of Hydro Power Project in
their area while some respondent had optimistic view and felt that the Hydro
Power Project would benefit them in many ways and give a boost to business.
Those respondents who were aware also informed the researcher that the local
people were not consulted by the developers, nor by the Government before
started the work for the project in their locality.
In Pathak and Pandey’s study (2005), more than
three-fifth (75.7%) sampled respondents knew about the loan schemes only. Rest
of the schemes related to housing, cattle and cobblers etc. were lesser known
to them. The strategies should be towards mobilising and organizing the poor
Scheduled Caste families in Self Help Groups creating awareness on literacy,
health care and several schemes to improve the capacity and ability of poor
people to manage risks, promoting self reliance and thrift supporting them to
form micro enterprises in wide range of key activities by giving support in
infrastructure, forward and backward linkages and other assistance for
improvement in the income generating capacity of Scheduled Castes families
living below poverty line.7
Thus it is clear that the awareness of displaced
people about the relief and rehabilitation schemes is very low. Only 43% out of
the total 300 respondents knew about one or the other schemes. It is because of
variety of reasons and most important among them is illiteracy, poverty and
lack of extension services of the government.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
In the light of above findings, it may be concluded
that the majority of displaced people are not aware of the various relief and
rehabilitation schemes run by the Government. The main reasons for this level
of unawareness are their illiteracy and poverty. Because of their illiteracy,
they have not been able to get any benefits of various health schemes. In every
Welfare State, welfare of rural poor has always been the main objective. For
this, various relief and rehabilitation schemes are introduced from time to
time by state governments keeping in mind its constitutional provisions. A
great deal of efforts has been made by the central and state governments to
improve the health economic, educational and social status of these displaced
people but that remains lop sided because of their illiteracy and unawareness
of these measures by the people for whom these measures are meant. In this
scenario, what is needed is more is a dissemination of awareness among rural
people regarding these relief and rehabilitation schemes so that the benefits
for these schemes could be optimized. In order to remove the prevailing ignorance
and illiteracy, the government should initiate a state-wide campaign to educate
them and strengthen and stream line the existing schemes. In order to raise the
general awareness among the rural population for successful implementation of
various relief and rehabilitation programmes for bringing improvement in their
quality of life, there is need for systematic and sustained Information,
Education and Communication (IEC) activities in the rural areas targeted at the
ignorant population. So, awareness on various relief and rehabilitation schemes
is a must so that the displaced people could avail proper benefits of these
relief and rehabilitation programmes. The study also suggested that small hydro
power projects are more viable then large scale hydro power projects. It will
be of great benefit in the terms of lesser displacement, save agriculture land,
systematic irrigation and more agricultural production due to water
availability. Small hydro power projects will leads to economic development of
masses of specific region and improve their living standards by providing new
employment avenues, rural connectivity and power generation.
REFERENCES:
1. World Development Report. (1997). The
State in a Changing World. New York: Oxford University Press.
2. Agarwal A.,
ASocio-Psychological Survey of the Rehabilitation Oustees of Tehri Dam,An
Unpublished M.Phil Dissertation. Department of Psychology. Shimla: Himachal
Pradesh University. (2000)
3. Fu Xiaocheng, Tang
Tao, et al., Impacts of Small Hydropower Plants on macoinvertebrate
Communities, Acta Ecological Sinica, 28 (1), 45-52 (2008)
4. Thakkar H., The
Central Role of Dams in Destroying our Rivers, South Asia Network on Dams,
Rivers and People, 6 (12) 10-11 (2010)
5. Advani, M. (2009). Urbanization,
Displacement and Rehabilitation. New Delhi: Rawat Publication.
6. Slariya,
M. (2009). A Study of Impacts of Hydroelectric Power Projects on Ecology and
Society in Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh. Ph.D. Thesis. Bareilly: MJP
Rohilkhand University.
7. Patakh, S.N. and
Panday, S.P. (2005). Scheduled Castes Development: A Study of Special
Component Plan. New Delhi: Serials Publications.