El impacto social de las grandes represas hidroeléctricas: un análisis desde la Antropología Social

RADOVICH, JUAN CARLOS

Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

Taller; II TALER INTERNACIONAL Sobre SINERGIAS AMBIENTALES ENTRE LAS AGUAS CONTINENTALES Y LAS MARINAS.; 2010

Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales (UBA)

Abstract From ancient times, for instance, 8.000 years B.P. big dams were built in several civilizations all over the world. In ancient China, India, Egipt and the Mesopotamian Region, dams for the purpose of irrigation were constructed. In the Andean area also, water has played a fundamental role for prehispanic cultures. In modern times, the hydroenergetic era begins with the development of turbines in 1832. Although, large scale dams boom started around 1930, when turbines began to be designed more precisely.           Nevertheless, involuntary resettlement was the more negative effect caused by this kind of large scale projects. Then, forced displacement of populations caused by the building of large scale dams has been a controversial issue. By nature, involuntary resettlement disrupts and most likely destroys a previous way of life generating hardship and stress on the affected population. In many cases programs has focused on compensation to land owners for lost assets. But the affected populations often includes landless peasants, cultivators, household workers, and villager workers who do not possess land to sustain their families. When rural people are affected always the main social impact is the loss of their main source of income. In these cases all the affected populations must be compensated and rehabilitated.      In spite of this, the main goal to achieve is to include in the resettlement project all the components that can generate the replacement of different sources of income. Another issue to take in account related to involuntary resettlement, is the differential responses to relocation process caused by the heterogeneity of the affected populations based mainly on gender, ethnicity, social classes and other issues. Also, relocatees always experience different kinds and intensities of impacts during the various stages of the resettlement process. In spite of this, policy making and planning levels must deal with these differences to achieve a positive end to the projects. Relocation involves the movement of populations from one place, and environment, to another, and thus involves the modification of the physical and social environment to which relocatees had to adapt.  In spite of this, extreme positions call for an immediate ban of hydroprojects related to the negative ecological and social effects produced during a long time. On the other hand, those who support dams, highlight the pressing need of generating hydropower for ?development? and ?progress?. Between 1970 and 1980, in Argentina several large scale dams for hydropower purpose were built, mainly in the North Patagonian region. El Chocon big dam, was the first built at the beginning of the 1970?s over the Limay river in the provinces of Rio Negro and Neuquen, as an intensive investment process, which ends at the middle of the 1990?s with the privatization process of all the hydroelectric projects from the North Patagonian Region. In present times, after four decades since the start of this process, structural conditions have changed in Argentina. Now is very difficult to obtain private investment in this sector and States are weaker to afford this process.             Nevertheless, the scientific analysis of big dam social impacts is a difficult task, because of the lack of new theoretical and methodological frameworks to understand this process in account of the complexity of present world. From ancient times, for instance, 8.000 years B.P. big dams were built in several civilizations all over the world. In ancient China, India, Egipt and the Mesopotamian Region, dams for the purpose of irrigation were constructed. In the Andean area also, water has played a fundamental role for prehispanic cultures. In modern times, the hydroenergetic era begins with the development of turbines in 1832. Although, large scale dams boom started around 1930, when turbines began to be designed more precisely.           Nevertheless, involuntary resettlement was the more negative effect caused by this kind of large scale projects. Then, forced displacement of populations caused by the building of large scale dams has been a controversial issue. By nature, involuntary resettlement disrupts and most likely destroys a previous way of life generating hardship and stress on the affected population. In many cases programs has focused on compensation to land owners for lost assets. But the affected populations often includes landless peasants, cultivators, household workers, and villager workers who do not possess land to sustain their families. When rural people are affected always the main social impact is the loss of their main source of income. In these cases all the affected populations must be compensated and rehabilitated.      In spite of this, the main goal to achieve is to include in the resettlement project all the components that can generate the replacement of different sources of income. Another issue to take in account related to involuntary resettlement, is the differential responses to relocation process caused by the heterogeneity of the affected populations based mainly on gender, ethnicity, social classes and other issues. Also, relocatees always experience different kinds and intensities of impacts during the various stages of the resettlement process. In spite of this, policy making and planning levels must deal with these differences to achieve a positive end to the projects. Relocation involves the movement of populations from one place, and environment, to another, and thus involves the modification of the physical and social environment to which relocatees had to adapt.  In spite of this, extreme positions call for an immediate ban of hydroprojects related to the negative ecological and social effects produced during a long time. On the other hand, those who support dams, highlight the pressing need of generating hydropower for ?development? and ?progress?. Between 1970 and 1980, in Argentina several large scale dams for hydropower purpose were built, mainly in the North Patagonian region. El Chocon big dam, was the first built at the beginning of the 1970?s over the Limay river in the provinces of Rio Negro and Neuquen, as an intensive investment process, which ends at the middle of the 1990?s with the privatization process of all the hydroelectric projects from the North Patagonian Region. In present times, after four decades since the start of this process, structural conditions have changed in Argentina. Now is very difficult to obtain private investment in this sector and States are weaker to afford this process.             Nevertheless, the scientific analysis of big dam social impacts is a difficult task, because of the lack of new theoretical and methodological frameworks to understand this process in account of the complexity of present world. From ancient times, for instance, 8.000 years B.P. big dams were built in several civilizations all over the world. In ancient China, India, Egipt and the Mesopotamian Region, dams for the purpose of irrigation were constructed. In the Andean area also, water has played a fundamental role for prehispanic cultures. In modern times, the hydroenergetic era begins with the development of turbines in 1832. Although, large scale dams boom started around 1930, when turbines began to be designed more precisely.           Nevertheless, involuntary resettlement was the more negative effect caused by this kind of large scale projects. Then, forced displacement of populations caused by the building of large scale dams has been a controversial issue. By nature, involuntary resettlement disrupts and most likely destroys a previous way of life generating hardship and stress on the affected population. In many cases programs has focused on compensation to land owners for lost assets. But the affected populations often includes landless peasants, cultivators, household workers, and villager workers who do not possess land to sustain their families. When rural people are affected always the main social impact is the loss of their main source of income. In these cases all the affected populations must be compensated and rehabilitated.      In spite of this, the main goal to achieve is to include in the resettlement project all the components that can generate the replacement of different sources of income. Another issue to take in account related to involuntary resettlement, is the differential responses to relocation process caused by the heterogeneity of the affected populations based mainly on gender, ethnicity, social classes and other issues. Also, relocatees always experience different kinds and intensities of impacts during the various stages of the resettlement process. In spite of this, policy making and planning levels must deal with these differences to achieve a positive end to the projects. Relocation involves the movement of populations from one place, and environment, to another, and thus involves the modification of the physical and social environment to which relocatees had to adapt.  In spite of this, extreme positions call for an immediate ban of hydroprojects related to the negative ecological and social effects produced during a long time. On the other hand, those who support dams, highlight the pressing need of generating hydropower for ?development? and ?progress?. Between 1970 and 1980, in Argentina several large scale dams for hydropower purpose were built, mainly in the North Patagonian region. El Chocon big dam, was the first built at the beginning of the 1970?s over the Limay river in the provinces of Rio Negro and Neuquen, as an intensive investment process, which ends at the middle of the 1990?s with the privatization process of all the hydroelectric projects from the North Patagonian Region. In present times, after four decades since the start of this process, structural conditions have changed in Argentina. Now is very difficult to obtain private investment in this sector and States are weaker to afford this process.             Nevertheless, the scientific analysis of big dam social impacts is a difficult task, because of the lack of new theoretical and methodological frameworks to understand this process in account of the complexity of present world.