A region’s thirst

India is today in the midst of a newfound drive to harness its water resources – and those of its neighbours – to secure an adequate supply of energy. But India's heightened demand should not be allowed to shortchange the debate required on certain crucial issues. Worryingly, many of these are the exact same issues that were facing the construction of large dams three decades ago: losses of livelihood, forced evictions and the destruction of riverine and riparian ecosystems. Meanwhile, this wilful blindness is being egged on by the world's largest funders. As the World Bank recently noted, "Hydropower is key to the government of India's plans of providing all its citizens with reliable access to electricity by 2012."

The focus of dam building in Southasia is in and near the Himalaya. In India, the large hydropower projects are on the mountain rivers of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Arunachal Pradesh. Indian investors are also scrounging for suitable dam sites in Nepal, while the Indian government has been actively exploiting the hydro-wealth of Bhutan — the Chukha, Kurichhu and Tala projects export electricity to India. The planned West Seti project in Nepal will also generate electricity for India.