Question : WORLD COMMISSION ON DAMS .

(a) whether the Government have studied the report of the world Commission on Dams, sponsored by World Bank which has studied the impact of Damodar Valley and Hirakud dams on floods;

(b) whether this exercise of the Commission is to review the demands for funds from the World Bank for setting up different dams;

(c) whether the report observes that the dams so far constructed have not yielding expected power generation and irrigation potential and fail to check floods;

(d) if so, the facts thereof;

(e) the reaction of the Government there to?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES

(SMT. BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY)

(a) Yes, Sir. Report of the World Commission on Dams (WCD) has attempted global assessment of dams and its effectiveness.


(b) While the WCD has been funded by the World Bank, its mandate does not include review of demands for funds from the World Bank for setting up different dams.


(c)to (e) The WCD in its Report has inter-alia observed that

(i) Large dams built to deliver hydropower tend to perform
close to but still below targets for power generation
generally meet their financial targets but demonstrate
variable economic performance relative to targets, and include
a number of notable under the over-performers, 
(ii) Large dams
designed to deliver irrigation services have typically fallen
short of physical targets, did not recover their costs and
have been less profitable in economic terms than expected, and

(iii) Large dams with a flood control component have provided
important benefits in this regard, but at the same time have
led to greater vulnerability to flood hazards due to increased
settlement in areas still at risk from floods, and in some
cases have worsened flood damages for a number of reasons,
including poor operation of dams.
The WCD Report deals with global issues based on
data reportedly derived by them on experiences of various
countries. The findings of the WCD are not binding on the
Governments.