How to determine if large dams are good/bad for developement?
It is a very complex question, and short term usually contradicts long term. Often social & environmental cost tends to be neglected, only focussing on benefits. Evidences are moulded to suit thesis. And sometimes, good dam, bad dams stereotypes are touted without focussing on facts. One way out, is collaborative, multi-stakeholder comitee research like world commison on dams, (http://www.dams.org), which has Medha patkar, ABB vice president, people from Industry as its writers. This seems the least biased option. Such organizations can conduct right research, and present short & long term effects, chance outcomes for each option. But final decision should be made by a centralized decisive body, depending on whats it values most. (e.g. If next month, Iran cuts off oil supply, India can not afford oil, and short term benefits of Sardar sarovar (hydel power), will outweigh any longterm cons, and we will hasten to build it. Indecision despite right information is probably next in damage t
