Comments on: Deconstructing Narmada: Large Dams and Economics http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/ Critiquing the Politics, Policy & Practice of Development Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:08:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dweep Chanana http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/comment-page-1/#comment-42994 Dweep Chanana Sun, 14 Jan 2007 04:23:26 +0000 http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/#comment-42994 Pramod, you make a good point about methane emissions from dam reservoirs. This has probably not received much attention, and changes the environmental case for dams. As you point out on Desicritics, we really need to look at better water resource management, efficient irrigation, and energy use as alternatives to ultra-mega-power projects. Pramod, you make a good point about methane emissions from dam reservoirs. This has probably not received much attention, and changes the environmental case for dams. As you point out on Desicritics, we really need to look at better water resource management, efficient irrigation, and energy use as alternatives to ultra-mega-power projects.

]]> By: Pramod http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/comment-page-1/#comment-42940 Pramod Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:52:56 +0000 http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/#comment-42940 Hydro electricity is not as green as people think it to be. Its probably contributing as much to the greenhouse effect as power plants running on fossil fuels. Large amounts of carbon tied up in trees is released, when plants and trees get submerged by the water. When they do not have enough oxygen, the decomposed organic matter releases methane. Philip Fearnside of Brazil's National Institute for Research in the Amazon says that methane is 21 times more potent as a greenhouse gas, than carbondioxide. Although , the numbers are not out there yet, it is significant enough that it is being noticed. The effect is probably very similar to a open soda bottle with gas fizzling out! Hydro electricity is not as green as people think it to be. Its probably contributing as much to the greenhouse effect as power plants running on fossil fuels. Large amounts of carbon tied up in trees is released, when plants and trees get submerged by the water. When they do not have enough oxygen, the decomposed organic matter releases methane. Philip Fearnside of Brazil’s National Institute for Research in the Amazon says that methane is 21 times more potent as a greenhouse gas, than carbondioxide. Although , the numbers are not out there yet, it is significant enough that it is being noticed. The effect is probably very similar to a open soda bottle with gas fizzling out!

]]> By: unnati http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/comment-page-1/#comment-42880 unnati Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:11:44 +0000 http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/#comment-42880 many self appointed chanakyas exist in this world, without any insight, or much knowledge. what surprises me that even with so many failed big dam projects, we still talk about following the china example, building more of them..... vested interests are perhaps the only thing because of which the rhetorics of the crap called large dams lives on, as has been analysed by arndhati roy's the greater common good as well as dilip d'souza's the narmada dammed. many self appointed chanakyas exist in this world, without any insight, or much knowledge. what surprises me that even with so many failed big dam projects, we still talk about following the china example, building more of them…..
vested interests are perhaps the only thing because of which the rhetorics of the crap called large dams lives on, as has been analysed by arndhati roy’s the greater common good as well as dilip d’souza’s the narmada dammed.

]]> By: Pramod http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/comment-page-1/#comment-42685 Pramod Thu, 11 Jan 2007 05:31:13 +0000 http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/#comment-42685 Instead of debating on building dams or Coal power plants, India should concentrate of generating power through means, that do not alter the eco-system nor cause displacement of the rural population. Denmark will be producing 50% of its power with the help of wind farms, by 2025, whereas several nations are integrating photovoltaic glazing panels with the building skin, to generate energy on a large scale...... and without a doubt harnessing the power of ocean currents and the undulating action of the waves will probably be the next big thing. India should probably be looking towards these examples, rather than the Three Gorges Dam! And instead of assisting the mass exodus from rural areas to the urban areas, the same money ( being used to build dams) could be used in innovative ways, to revitalize the rural economy. Instead of debating on building dams or Coal power plants, India should concentrate of generating power through means, that do not alter the eco-system nor cause displacement of the rural population. Denmark will be producing 50% of its power with the help of wind farms, by 2025, whereas several nations are integrating photovoltaic glazing panels with the building skin, to generate energy on a large scale…… and without a doubt harnessing the power of ocean currents and the undulating action of the waves will probably be the next big thing. India should probably be looking towards these examples, rather than the Three Gorges Dam!

And instead of assisting the mass exodus from rural areas to the urban areas, the same money ( being used to build dams) could be used in innovative ways, to revitalize the rural economy.

]]> By: Upendra http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/comment-page-1/#comment-42456 Upendra Tue, 09 Jan 2007 20:59:15 +0000 http://www.planetd.org/2007/01/09/deconstructing-narmada-large-dams-and-economics/#comment-42456 A tragedy for India is that we are a "land of plenty", plenty of "potentils" and equally plentiful "experts". Unfortunately our experts are not driven by logic and facts, rather they are driven by emotions and most of the times they are "less than half-informed". India and China cannot and should not be compared at all, we are two worlds apart; to compare India's performance with a country where every second child of a family is still murdered, shows the kind of expert Mr. Chan Akya is. As for large dams, Mr. Chan Akya should visit some of the large dam sites, before forming his "expert opinion". A tragedy for India is that we are a “land of plenty”, plenty of “potentils” and equally plentiful “experts”. Unfortunately our experts are not driven by logic and facts, rather they are driven by emotions and most of the times they are “less than half-informed”. India and China cannot and should not be compared at all, we are two worlds apart; to compare India’s performance with a country where every second child of a family is still murdered, shows the kind of expert Mr. Chan Akya is. As for large dams, Mr. Chan Akya should visit some of the large dam sites, before forming his “expert opinion”.

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