Dam(s)

September 5, 2009 | Category: Arunachal Pradesh | by: Heather

Yesterday our friend Steve sent us an article from National Geographic Adventure magazine that talks about the area of Arunachal Pradesh where we are.  Turns out our home for the last 4 months has been in the news lately.  Anyway, the article mentions a number of planned hydroelectric projects for the region in a newly begun race to exploit and develop resources.  The rivers truly are astounding, and I hadn’t been aware of any damming, but after reading it something clicked.  There’s been lots of dynamiting below us lately. (We’re situated on a ridge that overlooks the confluence of 2 big rivers).  I just thought it was roadwork (they are building a new road to connect to Bhutan), which itself is very destructive and ugly, causing lots of erosion.  In the last week or two there have been earth-shaking explosions, followed by the roar and dust-cloud of avalanching earth.  A month and a half ago another volunteer and the director found some huge tunnels being dug down by the river.  I don’t know much about dam building….but I wonder, and it makes me ache to think/know that it’s being done.  I can’t imagine how many villages will be displaced, how much rainforest will be drowned, how many people and animals further down the line will be affected.  I’m all for non-destructive, well-thought-out development and creation of energy (Jhamtse Gatsal is a great example of leading in that area, since they installed solar panels this summer).  And I think hydro has potential there.   But not by damming.  Oh how I wish that people and governments would be less selfish in what they are choosing to preserve in this world!  I want to do something, but corrupt governments controlling everything have a way of making one feel quite helpless.  Ideas?  The only one I can come up with is to hurry up and come back here with my kayak, before it’s too late.

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  1. Ann Whittaker
    on September 30th, 2009
    1

    so frustrating and sad! wish i had a good idea, but i have a hard enough time “making a difference” in a “democratic” country here. sorry to go off on that…i just mean to say i’m so sad they’re doing that!

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