Open AccessAddressing the Livelihood of Non-Resettlers in Dam-Induced “Detached” Areas: The Case of the Shichikashuku Dam
Author(s) -
Mikiyasu Nakayama,
Ryo Fujikura
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of asian development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2377-9594
DOI - 10.5296/jad.v5i1.14423
Subject(s) - livelihood , commission , downstream (manufacturing) , dam removal , environmental planning , business , environmental resource management , geography , environmental science , finance , agriculture , archaeology , marketing , paleontology , sediment , biology
Most dam construction projects inevitably lead to the creation of involuntary resettlers due to inundation of their lands and houses by reservoirs. How resettlers should be dealt with or “compensated” has long been discussed. The report published by the World Dam Commission was one of the major milestones on this issue. However, attention should also be given to the fact that non-resettlers who are obliged to stay in the project area after completion of a dam also suffer from dam construction. Even though their assets are not submerged, if their land is “detached” from the downstream area by a reservoir, they tend to become worse off socially and even financially. Improvement of infrastructure, in particular having roads to the downstream area, is essential to minimize the impacts on those who are “detached.” Compensating for the lost assets of the resettlers alone may not be sufficient to prevent the people in the project area of a dam construction from becoming worse off.