Dams: A Blessing or Curse?

More than double that number lack basic sanitation. Two billion people have no access to electricity. Almost a billion people have been displaced by force. And those numbers are set to rise. And after a decade-long study, the scientists recently concluded that the natural flow of water from highlands that carries a large quantity of organic and inorganic waste and diverted to the giant reservoir of static water produces enormous quantity of methane gas, which forms a cloud on the stratosphere of the earth trapping immense heat causing greenhouse effect of global warming, resulting in melting of arctic glaciers, rising of sea level and consequent flooding of low lands and further destruction of habitat, forests and green cover, the lifeline of this planet.

A lot of earthquakes resulting in breaking of the dams in the seismic zones of this planet have caused disastrous flood and ecological disaster than irrigating the lands of poor and drought ridden villages of the world. For instance, if Tehri dam, on the banks of Ganges in the Garhwal region in the Himalayas, a seismic zone, collapses due to an earthquake or any other fault, the devastation will be unimaginable. The huge reservoir built at such a height, will empty in 22 minutes, causing havoc to large parts of northwestern India and the many communities located there in.

With the world population growing faster than ever, by 2050 at least 1 in 4 people will be living in country affected by water shortage. And in the most alarming scenario, by that time up to seven billion people in 60 countries are expected to face water scarcity. To meet the demand for water, more large dams are proposed as a key solution.

But will they really bring benefits to those who are the most needy?