Dams and Development E-paper

Dams and Development
E-Paper Contents

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Foreword

I. Why an e-paper on dams and development?

Why are dams controversial?

What is the e-paper about?

Who is the target audience?

What is the definition of a large dam?

Why did ADB commission the e-paper?

How can ADB staff use the e-paper?

II. Assessing options

III. Participatory processes

IV. Social impacts

V. Environmental impacts

VI. Benefit distribution

VII. Dam safety and sustainability

VIII. Existing projects

IX. Improving governance

X. What other organizations say

XI. ADB, Dams, and Development

XII. References

Contact Us

Why did the ADB Commission the e-paper?

From 1970 to mid-2005, ADB provided financial support to 65 projects with dams (large and small), either directly to the construction of the dam itself or to associated equipment. At the beginning of 2004, there were five ongoing or pipeline technical assistance projects involving dam projects.

ADB recognizes the complex nature of issues surrounding dam projects as well as the opportunities and risks they present. Over the past five years, it has engaged in a number of related reviews and discussions:

Special Evaluation Study on the Social and Environmental Impacts of Selected Hydropower Projects, Operations Evaluation Department, 1999
Support to WCD Regional Consultation for East and Southeast Asia, Hanoi, February 2000
Study on Large Dams and Recommended Practices, 2001, RETA 5828-REG¹
Hosting a Regional Workshop on Dams and Development in Manila in February 2001
Preliminary response to the WCD Report delivered to the 3^rd WCD Forum in February 2001
Membership of UNEPs Dams and Development Forum
Support to national dialogues on dams and development in the Philippines and Viet Nam.

Taking into account this experience and the WCD recommendations, ADB considered it important to draw together information on dams and development into an electronic format that provides structured and easy access for those involved with planning or implementing projects with a dam component.

The discussion generated as a result of the e-paper will feedback into the review of ADBs Water Policy due in 2005.

The four projects studied by OED were:

Batang Ai Hydropower Project in Malaysia, Loan No. 521-MAL, 1981
Power XX (Singkarak) Project in Indonesia, Loan No, 1032-INO, 1990
Hunan Lingjintan Hydropower Project, PR China, Loan No. 1318-PRC, 1994
Theun-Hinboun Hydropower Project, Lao PDR, Loan No. 1329-LAO, 1994

The four projects studied in RETA 5828 were:

Nam Ngum 1 - Lao PDR,
Magat - Philippines,
Victoria - Sri Lanka,
Lingjintan - PR China

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Footnote:

The Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka made the following comment on the Victoria Dam Case Study.

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What is the definition of a large dam?

How can ADB staff use the e-paper?